University to spearhead $1.6 million grant to area school districts

The University of South Carolina, School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties and the School District of Newberry County will collaborate on a five-year, $1.6 million U.S. Department of Education grant to improve the teaching of American history.

The grant is part of a $116 million effort -- the Teaching American History discretionary grant program -- that will reach school districts in 40 states. The program supports projects to improve teachers’ knowledge and understanding of traditional American history through intensive, on-going professional development.

Dr. Ken Vogler, assistant professor in the university’s department of instruction and teacher education, will serve as the grant’s co-project investigator in charge of the research component and as the university’s liaison with the school districts.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for teachers in Lexington 5 and Newberry County to improve their content knowledge and to develop and implement literacy strategies when teaching American history,” he said. “The Reading, Writing, and Reasoning in American History Project’s primary goal is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to help them prepare their students to achieve at higher standards in American history.”

Through the grant, 45 teachers, as chosen by the districts, will enhance their knowledge and skills through university-directed coursework in American history and education. By the end of the five years, participating teachers will have earned 30 graduate credit hours: 15 in history and 15 in education. If accepted into a graduate program, these credit hours may be applied toward a degree.