Oct. 6, 2025 — Duval County Public Schools through a partnership with the University of North Florida (UNF) and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) has been awarded more than $3 million in federal grants to boost civics and U.S. history education for students across the district. The funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, will support new professional learning programs for teachers.
Dr. April Slade, Director of K12 Social Studies states the goal is to give teachers stronger tools and resources so students can better understand how democracy works, why history matters, and how they can play an active role in their communities.
Elevating Civics Instruction
One of the programs, led by UNF, will provide in-depth training for 90 middle school civics teachers—many from schools with the highest needs. Over the next three years, the $2.1 million “Cultivating Comprehensive Civics Education” program will help teachers deepen their knowledge of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other founding documents while exploring ways to bring real-world civic issues into the classroom.
“Civics isn’t just memorizing dates and facts—it’s about preparing students to think critically and participate in democracy,” said Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, a professor at UNF helping lead the project.
Celebrating 250 Years of Democracy
The second grant, totaling about $1.5 million, will be led by FSCJ and focus on professional development for 550 middle and high school teachers across more than 100 schools. Called 250 Years of Democracy, the program will offer online courses, workshops, and even trips to the Florida State Capitol, connecting classroom lessons to real-world experiences.
This initiative ties into the upcoming 250th anniversary of America’s founding in 2026, encouraging teachers to highlight the nation’s democratic traditions while preparing students for today’s civic challenges.
Why It Matters
By training teachers, both programs aim to improve student performance on civics exams and, more importantly, encourage young people to become informed and engaged citizens. Officials expect thousands of students will benefit as teachers bring new strategies and knowledge into their classrooms.
"I’m thrilled to partner with UNF, FSCJ, and the Lou Frey Institute on this transformative investment in our teachers and students,” said Dr. April D. Slade, director of K–12 social studies for Duval County Public Schools. “By building a sustainable pipeline of expertly trained civics teachers, we will expand access to rigorous instruction, improve performance on key benchmarks and deepen students’ sense of civic responsibility across every neighborhood we serve.”