Sen. Hutchison Announces Almost $1 Million for San

WASHINGTON— Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) announced today that San Marcos educators will receive almost $1 million to support programs aimed at helping teachers improve students? knowledge of American history.

"These resources will help the next generation have a better understanding of American history," said Sen. Hutchison, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. "Instilling students with a firm grasp of our past is critical to ensuring a healthy and vibrant democracy for years to come. I commend Secretary Paige and the Administration for advancing this important initiative."

The Department of Education?s Teaching American History Grant Program is allocating $996,903 for the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School. The resources will be used by local educational agencies, which have partnerships with organizations that have expertise in American history. The collaborations will create programs to help teachers develop the skills and knowledge necessary to teach the subject in an engaging manner, as well as promote teaching American history in elementary and secondary schools as a separate academic subject.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, history is highlighted as one of the core academic subjects. A recent National Assessment of Educational Progress report showed that less than one-quarter of America's K-12 students are proficient in American history. The No Child Left Behind Act supports additional instruction for teachers to help them have an in-depth knowledge of the subjects they teach, which in turn, will help students' performance.