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HD 6082

A communication from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (see item 1595-0115 of Section 2E of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025) submitting a report on the Civic Projects Trust Fund for fiscal year 2024

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts is continuing to fund civics education through the Civics Project Trust Fund, detailing FY2024 funding, how it was spent, and FY2025 plans to expand curricula, profes

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Bill Summary · HD 6082

Summary of Bill HD 6082 (Session 194th) — Civics Project Trust Fund: FY2024 Report

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill transmits a communication from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) submitting a report on the Civics Project Trust Fund for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024).
  • The Civics Project Trust Fund was established by Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018 to support civics education in Massachusetts, aligning with the 2018 History and Social Science Framework and the requirement for student-led civics projects in grades 8 and high school.
  • The report satisfies statutory obligations to outline fund sources, expenditures, grants to higher education or other stakeholders, and forecasts for next year.

Key Provisions and Content of the Report

  • Source of Funds (FY2024)

    • State appropriation: $2.5 million to the Civics Project Trust Fund.
    • Private contribution: $306,000 donation from the One8 Foundation (to support the Investigating History curriculum).

  • Expenditures (FY2024, as of Sept 20, 2024)

    • Grant Awards: $904,135
    • Civics Teaching and Learning Grant (FC589): $918,479
    • Investigating History Expansion Grant (FC0116): $45,500
    • Returned funds from grantees: ($59,844)
    • Project Expenses: $1,270,329
    • Investigating History: $346,725
    • Civics Professional Learning Pathways: $572,305
    • Statewide History and Civics Evaluation: $183,417
    • Civics Project Showcases: $106,885
    • Student Government Day: $8,078
    • Media Literacy Review: $52,920
    • Employee Costs: $93,800
    • Miscellaneous and Indirect Costs: $31,983
    • Total Expenditures (FY2024, as of Sept 20, 2024): $2,300,248

  • Grants and Programs Overview

    • Civics Teaching and Learning Grant (FC589): Supports curricula development/purchase, teacher/admin professional development, civics project implementation in eighth grade and high school, and related experiential learning including civics showcases. DESE prioritized equity, deeper learning, and sustainability; competitive priority to districts with struggling schools or high low-income populations and/or collaborative LEA applications.
    • Investigating History Expansion Grant (FC0116): Funds expansion of the Investigating History curriculum (Grades 5–7; pilots for Grades 3–4 with Summer 2025 release). Emphasizes historical inquiry, civic engagement, multilingual learners, and culturally sustaining pedagogy. Prioritized districts with schedule capacity, collaboration structures, and full professional development participation.
    • Civics Professional Learning Pathways: Coordinated by DESE with partners (Harvard’s Democratic Knowledge Project, iCivics, EmergingAmerica, among others) to provide sustained professional development for civics education.
    • Statewide History and Civics Evaluation: Partnership with MC Education to evaluate grant implementation and statewide civics/histories efforts, focusing on variations across schools/teachers/students.
    • Civics Project Showcases: Regional showcases (Amherst, Worcester, Bridgewater) to highlight student civic projects; supported logistics and event planning.
    • Student Government Day: Annual program enabling high school students to participate in legislative proceedings.
    • Media Literacy Review: Landscape scan of media literacy education; planning for FY2025 research activities.
    • Employee Costs: Support for contract staff dedicated to civics resources and showpiece events.

  • Grants to Higher Education and Other Stakeholders

    • No grants to higher education or other stakeholder organizations were awarded in FY2024 (as noted in the report).

  • FY2025 Projections and Anticipated Expenditures

    • State appropriation for FY2025 remains $2.5 million.
    • Major planned expenditures include continued direct grants to LEAs, expansion and refinement of the Investigating History curriculum (including grades 3–7), statewide Civics Pathways, ongoing evaluation, media literacy review, four civics showcases, and Student Government Day.
    • Anticipated expenditures for FY2025 total about $4.525 million, funded by a combination of rolled-over funds from prior years and new appropriations. This amount exceeds the FY2025 revenue by roughly $2 million, necessitating use of prior-year carryover funds.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Public school districts and local education agencies (LEAs) across Massachusetts receive direct grants to support civics education, curriculum adoption/development, and professional development.
  • Students (particularly in grades 3–7 with Investigating History expansion; grades 8–12 via civics projects requirement) benefit from enhanced civics instruction, student-led civics projects, and showcases.
  • Teachers and school staff participate in professional learning pathways and collaborative professional development.
  • Higher education and some stakeholder organizations were not recipients in FY2024 per the report.
  • The general public benefits indirectly through civics knowledge development and increased civic engagement opportunities.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Statutory basis: Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018 requires annual DESE reporting on the Civics Project Trust Fund’s activity, including sources, expenditures, grants, and forecasts.
  • Reporting deadline: The report follows the established schedule to provide fiscal year 2024 activity and fiscal year 2025 projections.
  • Notable dates in the document:
    • FY2024 funding and program activity through September 20, 2024.
    • FY2025 planned programmatic activities and projected expenditures (annual cycle extends through June 2025 for grant cycles; several grants span two-year funding cycles).
  • The report highlights ongoing implementation of the 2018 History and Social Science Framework and the Chapter 296 civics-project requirements (effective 2020–2021) and mentions Commonwealth Civics Challenge initiatives.

Bottom Line

  • The bill provides an official, detailed accounting of the Civics Project Trust Fund for FY2024, including fund sources, major grant programs, project expenditures, and planned FY2025 activities. It underscores Massachusetts’ continued investment in civics education through curricula development, professional learning, statewide showcases, and evaluation to support student-led civics projects and inquiry-based social studies learning.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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