Teaching America250 Awards

Any K-12 educator teaching in a school is eligible to apply. We encourage teachers in public, private, and charter schools to submit proposals!

We will consider a variety of projects for the Teaching America250 Awards. Projects can include field trips, extracurricular clubs, a school assembly, a community event, or special class project. Click here to see a few sample projects—they might spark some inspiration!

Projects can be directed towards a single class, an entire grade or school, or the broader community. One teacher might propose a project for an individual class trip while another proposes a project for a schoolwide assembly or community art project. We encourage you to be creative and propose a project that excites you and can be executed well.

Proposals will be evaluated on creativity, cost, feasibility, student engagement, and relevance to Declaration of Independence themes.

The project should engage students and/or school community members in the study and celebration of the principles in the Declaration of Independence and the historical significance of the Declaration and the nation’s 250^th birthday. The Jack Miller Center is keenly interested in projects that engage students, and others, in the primary sources of the American political tradition. Strong proposals will address one or more of the following:

– Core principles of the Declaration including liberty, equality, natural rights, etc.

– The historical impact of the Declaration in 1776 and beyond

– The significance of the 250^th anniversary

– Key figures involved in the writing and signing of the Declaration

– Events leading up to and following the signing

All proposals must include:

– Project Description

– Project Goals

– Timeline

– Budget

– Project Director Resume

The Project Budget should demonstrate how the $5,000 award would be spent. Line items could include the following:

– Transportation

– Entrance fees for cultural and/or historical sites or museums

– Supplies for a special project

– Honoraria for special guest speakers

– Project Director and/or assistant time (not exceeding 20% of the entire project cost)

See a few sample proposals and budgets here!

Projects that will not be considered include purchasing textbooks or standard classroom supplies or routine activities not related to the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration.

Each winner of the Teaching America250 Awards will receive a $5,000 grant to execute the project he or she proposed.

All winners will be featured in print and digital JMC communications on social media and in emails.

A select number of Teaching America250 Award winners will be invited to participate in the Civic Learning Week National Forum or the National Summit on Civic Education.

A select number of Teaching America250 Award winners will be visited by Jack Miller Center staff so that we can witness your hard work in action and collect photo and video content.

All proposals are due by November 16, 2025. Winners will be notified in late December and will be publicly announced in January, 2026.

Please email teaching250@gojmc.org with questions. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!