Comment Period Begins on Changes to Selection Criteria for Teaching American History Grants

The Office of Innovation and Improvement in the U.S. Department of Education proposes to change the final selection criteria of the Teaching American History (TAH) grant program. The period for public comments on the proposed changes is now open and continues until November 28, 2009.

An announcement in the Federal Register, Wednesday, October 29, outlines the proposed changes and explains how to submit comments on those changes.

The National History Coalition Washington Update explains that a notice issued in 2005 (70 FR 19939), laid out specific selection criteria for TAH grant application evaluation. If adopted, proposed changes give the Department of Education greater flexibility in evaluating grant applications than those included in the 2005 notice.

Besides this flexibility, the proposed changes give the Department the authority to vary the selection criteria in any year the program is in effect. The announcement inviting applications for TAH grants would then list the criteria and the point value assigned in evaluating grant applications.

For further information about the proposed changes and their submission, please contact Mia Howerton by email at Mia.Howerton@ed.gov or by telephone at 202-205-0147.