Overview:
The Education Department, alongside conservative groups including AFPI, Turning Point USA, and Hillsdale College, has launched the America 250 Civics Education Coalition to promote patriotism, civic knowledge, and America’s founding principles ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
On Wednesday, the Education Department announced a partnership with conservative groups to provide educational programming on patriotism, liberty, and what it calls American values, in recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary next year.
Announced on Constitution Day, the Department of Education, alongside the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and more than 40 leading national and state-based organizations, announced this week the launch of the America 250 Civics Education Coalition. The initiative, which is led by the America First Policy Institute, is a right-leaning group founded by senior veterans of President Donald Trump’s first-term administration from 2016.
While few details were released, the initiative was quoted by the Education Department as an effort to renew patriotism and develop “a strengthening civic knowledge, and advancing a shared understanding of America’s founding principles…”
“As America approaches 250 years since its founding, we are proud to announce this coalition to ensure every young American understands the beauty of our nation and is equipped with the civic knowledge required to contribute meaningfully to its future,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “A country cannot survive if its values are forgotten by its people. More than ever, we need to restore the vitality of the American spirit, and this coalition will take bold steps to educate, inspire, and mobilize youth toward active and informed citizenship.”
“AFPI is proud to stand with the Department of Education and partner with over 40 best-in-class organizations to form this coalition,” said Interim President of the American First Policy Institute Greg Sindelar. “Together, we are building a movement that will ensure the next generation understands America’s founding principles and carries them forward with confidence and pride.”
“Turning Point USA, which includes Turning Point Education, is more resolved than ever to advance God-centered, virtuous education for students flourishing across our nation,” said Dr. Hutz H. Hertzberg, Chief Education Officer of Turning Point Education. “With that in mind, we are honored to partner with the distinguished organizations that comprise the America 250 Civics Education Coalition to restore, revive, and reclaim robust American civics education for all students throughout our country.”
“We celebrate Lincoln for his greatness in recalling the nation to the principles of its birth, the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the most beautiful political document in history,” said Dr. Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College. “It is time to repeat his work and the work of Jefferson and the Founders. We will work together to learn those principles, and for the love of them we will have a grand celebration.”
In addition to this initiative, the Department of Education announced that it would begin a program to award grants focused on promoting”a civic education that teaches American history, values, and geography with an unbiased approach.”
During President Trump’s first term, he focused on promoting patriotism in education by founding the 1776 Commission to teach young people the “founding principles” of the nation. In his Executive Order released this year, Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling, Trump revived it.
The coalition convened its inaugural roundtable discussion yesterday. Over the next twelve months, the coalition will unveil a robust programming agenda, including the Fundamental Liberties College Speaker Series and a 50-state speaking tour on college campuses nationwide.
America 250 Civics Education Coalition Partners include:
- 1776 Project Foundation
- Alabama Policy Institute
- Alliance Defending Freedom
- Alumni Free Speech Alliance
- America First Legal
- American Center for Law & Justice
- American Cornerstone Institute
- American Legislative Exchange Council
- American Moment
- American Principles Project
- Catholic Vote
- Center for Education Reform
- Center for Renewing America
- Center for Urban Renewal
- Claremont Institute
- Commonwealth Foundation
- Concerned Women for America
- Conservative Partnership Institute
- Constituting America
- Council for National Policy
- Eagle Forum
- Faith and Freedom Coalition
- First Liberty Counsel
- First Liberty Institute
- Goldwater Institute
- Heritage Foundation
- Hillsdale College
- Intercollegiate Studies Institute for Education Reform
- James Madison Institute
- Job Creators Network
- Leadership Institute
- Moms for America
- Moms for Liberty
- National Association of Scholars
- PragerU
- Priests for Life
- Religious Freedom Institute
- Texas Public Policy Foundation
- The Fund for American Studies
- Turning Point USA
- Woodson Center
This article highlights a concerning partnership between the Education Department and conservative groups to shape civics education. It raises important questions about the influence of political ideologies on curriculum and the potential impact on students understanding of American values and history.
This partnership feels like a positive effort to strengthen civic education, but I hope it includes diverse perspectives to truly prepare students for informed citizenship.