Thorp grant will boost teaching of American history in region

By JAMES JOYCE III
Yakima Herald-Republic

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YAKIMA -- More than 100 teachers throughout Central Washington will be offered professional development for teaching American history under a three-year $1 million grant awarded to the Thorp School District in Kittitas County.

The award was announced Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. It's one of 121 new grants totaling $114.7 million being distributed through the Teaching American History program to schools in 40 states.

The grant is being awarded to the 170-student Thorp School District but will be used to offer staff training for 110 teachers throughout Central Washington.

Led by the Thorp School District, teachers will be supported by a consortium of partners, including 15 school districts, Central Washington University, a historical society, archives, museums, libraries, local TV stations, the Northwest Oral History Association and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction -- 57 partners in all.

The grant is designed to improve student achievement by deepening teachers' knowledge of traditional American history through intensive and ongoing professional development in both content and research-based technology.

To learn more about the Teaching American History grant program visit, www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/index.html.