Summary
The Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue (WICCD) received a three-year $1.1 million grant from the United States Department of Education (DOE) American History & Civics Seminars program. This grant supports:
- Evidence-based teacher training programs provided by the Jack Miller Center (JMC)
- Supporting activities designed to maximize and measure lasting program impact
- Outreach to highly polarized communities, urban and rural classrooms
- Collaboration across public, voucher, and charter school sectors
Expected Outcomes
- An improvement in the basic civic knowledge exhibited by Wisconsin college students as measured by future WICCD campus free expression surveys
- The breaking down of sector barriers (public, voucher, and charter) in teacher education and knowledge sharing around civics
- Overall improvement in student performance on the Wisconsin Forward Social Studies exam
- A lasting education training infrastructure that ensures the continuation of activities after the grant is complete
At a Glance
- Grant Amount: $1.1 million
- Funding Source: U.S. Department of Education
- Program: American History & Civics Seminars
- Duration: 3 years (2026-2028)
- Lead Partner: Jack Miller Center
Planned Major Activities
2026
Teacher Trainings Each training will include a virtual follow up meeting two weeks later.
- Eau Claire (spring 1 day)
- Madison (summer 2.5 day)
- Milwaukee (summer 2.5 day)
- Green Bay (fall 1 day)
Student Focus Groups
- Four focus groups on UW campuses with 4-6 students
What Works Workshop
- Madison or Milwaukee (summer as part of the 2.5 day training)
2027
Teacher Trainings Each training will include a virtual follow up meeting two weeks later.
- Oshkosh (spring 1 day)
- TBD (spring 1 day)
- Superior (summer 2.5 day)
- Stout (summer 2.5 day)
- Whitewater (fall 1 day)
- TBD (fall 1 day)
Student Focus Groups
- Four focus groups on UW campuses with 4-6 students
What Works Workshop
- Superior or Stout (summer as part of the 2.5 day training)
2028
Teacher Trainings Each training will include a virtual follow up meeting two weeks later.
- Platteville (spring 1 day)
- Parkside (spring 1 day)
- TBD (spring 1 day)
- TBD (spring 1 day)
- La Crosse (summer 2.5 day)
- River Falls (summer 2.5 day)
- Stevens Point (fall 1 day)
- TBD (fall 1 day)
Student Focus Groups
- Four focus groups on UW campuses with 4-6 students
What Works Workshop
- La Crosse or River Falls (summer as part of the 2.5 day training)
Supporters/Partners
The following organizations submitted letters of support for the grant proposal. Other partners will be added as they become involved:
- Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History
- The Wisconsin Association of School Boards
- Sphere Education Initiatives
- The Center for Civic Education
- The Legislative Semester
- The Menard Center for Constitutional Studies at the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire
- The Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
- The Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy (CSLD) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
- The Center for the Study of the American Constitution at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Contact
Contact Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue (WICCD) director Michael Ford at michael.ford@wisconsin.edu.