Common sense and the constitution: civic engagement in the spirit of 1776

Federal Grant Award Summary

Iona University received a $1.867 million 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 October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2026. The grant supports the project titled "Common Sense and the Constitution: Civic Engagement in the Spirit of 1776," which is designed to advance teaching and learning in American history, civics, and constitutional principles at the K-12 level.

Under this award, Iona University will develop and deliver educational products and services that advance civic engagement and understanding of constitutional principles among students and educators. Based on the program's focus, deliverables likely include curriculum development materials, teacher professional development activities, and instructional resources aligned with founding documents and constitutional themes. These outputs will contribute to the American History and Civics Education program's broader national objective to improve the quality of civics instruction and promote evidence-based pedagogical approaches in K-12 schools, with particular emphasis on serving low-income and underserved student populations.