JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The University of North Florida\u2019s Silverfield College of Education and Human Services has received a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to enhance civics education in Northeast Florida.<\/p>\n
The grant will fund the Cultivating Comprehensive Civics Education Professional Development Program (3C-EPD), which aims to improve civics education through an inquiry-driven approach to teacher learning. <\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n The program will involve 90 in-service civics teachers from high-need schools in a year-long series of professional learning opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cCivics education is about more than memorizing dates and facts; it\u2019s about helping students engage deeply with ideas, texts, and issues that shape our democracy,\u201d said Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum.<\/p>\n Developed in partnership with Duval County Public Schools and the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida, the 3C-EPD initiative focuses on deepening teachers\u2019 content knowledge and pedagogical expertise.<\/p>\n UNF faculty members, including Yendol-Hoppey, Eric Schoute, and Daniel Dinsmore, will lead the project, bringing their expertise in instructional design and teacher learning to ensure the program\u2019s rigor and scalability.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thrilled to partner with UNF and the Lou Frey Institute on this transformative investment in our teachers and students,\u201d said Dr. April D. Slade, director of K\u201312 social studies for Duval County Public Schools. <\/p>\n \u201cBy building a sustainable pipeline of expertly trained civics teachers, we will expand access to rigorous instruction, improve performance on key benchmarks, and deepen students\u2019 sense of civic responsibility across every neighborhood we serve.\u201d <\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n