UNF receives $2.1M Dept. of Education grant to strengthen civics education

The Silverfield College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida has received a three-year, $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the Cultivating Comprehensive Civics Education Professional Development Program (3C-EPD). The program will strengthen civics education in Northeast Florida through an innovative, inquiry-driven approach to teacher learning.

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 will engage 90 in-service civics teachers working in primarily high-need schools in a year-long series of professional learning opportunities. The program is designed to deepen teachers' content knowledge, strengthen pedagogical expertise and build confidence in guiding students through complex civic issues.

"Civics education is about more than memorizing dates and facts, it's about helping students engage deeply with ideas, texts, and issues that shape our democracy," said Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum. "This grant allows us to support teachers in creating classroom spaces where inquiry, analysis and civic responsibility are at the forefront."

The program emphasizes lesson design grounded in primary sources, including foundational texts such as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. By approaching civics through inquiry and analysis, the program aims to increase student success on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam, strengthen reasoning skills and foster civic self-efficacy.

SCOEHS faculty Yendol-Hoppey, Eric Schoute and Daniel Dinsmore will lead the project in combination with school partners. The UNF faculty bring expertise in instructional design, teacher learning and assessment to help ensure the program is both rigorous in design and scalable as a professional development model with implications for research, policy and practice.

"I'm thrilled to partner with UNF and the Lou Frey Institute on this transformative investment in our teachers and students," said Dr. April D. Slade, director of K-12 social studies for Duval County Public Schools. "By building a sustainable pipeline of expertly trained civics teachers, we will expand access to rigorous instruction, improve performance on key benchmarks and deepen students' sense of civic responsibility across every neighborhood we serve."

By combining expertise across institutions and focusing on inquiry-based teacher learning, the 3C-EPD Program seeks to expand the possibilities of civics education and prepare students to engage thoughtfully in democratic life.