COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 29

April 16, 2002

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE / SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History Grants

As part of Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the U.S. Department of Education has announced a competition to award $100 million in grants to local school divisions in partnership with providers of history expertise. The grants will support programs of professional development to improve teachers knowledge, understanding and appreciation of American history. Applications for the grants and additional information about the program are available through the U.S. Department of Education website at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/TAH.

The Teaching American History Program will conduct a series of outreach sessions to assist school divisions preparing for the grant competition. These sessions will be conducted in several locations across the country. The sessions closest to Virginia are identified below along with a contact person. Contact the individuals listed with each site to make arrangements to attend these sessions.

April 24, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA - Temple University from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Contact David Zuckerman, 215-204-7194.

April 25, 2002 - Charleston, WV Summit Conference Center from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Contact Billie Hauser, Janis Augustine, or Kim Cook, 1-800-624-9100.

May 9, 2002 Charlotte, NC Adams Mark Hotel from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Contact Charles Ahearn, 1-800-659-3204.

For further information, please contact Colleen C. Bryant (cbryant@mail.vak12ed.edu), secondary history and social science specialist, at (804) 786-4640.

PIW/CCB/tlc