Summary: MKE ROOTS: Improving K12 Civic Education in Milwaukee County

Marquette University's Office of the Comptroller received a $1.497M Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the American History and Civics Education program (CFDA 84.422) awarded on October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for September 30, 2026. The MKE ROOTS initiative supports improved K-12 civic education in Milwaukee County through professional development, curriculum development, and educational programming aligned with the Department of Education's emphasis on evidence-based instruction in American history, civics, and government. As a private Catholic and Jesuit research institution with demonstrated expertise in teacher education, Marquette University is well-positioned to deliver these federally funded civics education services and training programs to K-12 educators and students in the Milwaukee area.

The award represents part of a broader Department of Education initiative that has substantially accelerated funding for civics education in 2025, with 73 total awards obligating $198.3M nationally. Typical awards in this program cluster between $1.4M and $2.6M and emphasize teacher seminars, curriculum development, and student enrichment activities, with many initiatives organizing around the nation's 250th anniversary as a thematic framework for civic engagement and historical learning.