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SD 3844

Civics Project Trust Fund FY24 Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts funds and expands K–12 civics education via the Civics Project Trust Fund, prioritizing student-led civics, equity, and statewide teacher development, with FY2025 exp

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Bill Summary · SD 3844

Summary — Bill SD 3844 (Session 194th, Massachusetts): Civics Project Trust Fund FY24 Report

Note: This document is a legislative report rather than a standalone new statute. It summarizes the activities, status, and expenditures of the Civics Project Trust Fund (established by Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018) for FY2024 and related projections for FY2025.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • Establishment and role: The Civics Project Trust Fund supports civics education in Massachusetts in line with the 2018 History and Social Science Framework and Chapter 296 (2018), which require student-led civics projects in grades 8 and high school.

  • Primary aims:

    • Promote civics education statewide.
    • Support student-led, nonpartisan civics projects for all eligible students.
    • Develop and implement civics-related curricula and professional development.
    • Foster collaboration with higher education and stakeholder organizations.
    • Provide competitive evaluation of student-led civics projects.

  • Funding source: FY2024 budget allocates $2.5 million to the Trust Fund via state appropriation; a $306,000 donation from the One8 Foundation supported the Investigating History curriculum development in partnership with DESE.

2) Key Provisions and Expenditures (FY2024 Focus; FY2025 Projections)

  • Overall structure: The fund supports grants to local education agencies (LEAs), development of DESE-created resources, and professional learning opportunities for educators.

  • Major FY2024 expenditures (aggregate: $2,300,248 expended as of Sept 20, 2024):

    • Grant Awards: $904,135
    • Civics Teaching and Learning Grant (FC589): $918,479 total (note: this line item appears to be the grant fund pool; the document lists related awards to LEAs under FC589 in Appendix A as part of the broader grant activity).
    • 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

  • Grant programs described:

    • Civics Teaching and Learning Grant (FC589)
    • Supports curriculum development/purchasing, educator professional development, implementation of student-led civics projects (Eighth grade and high school), and enrichment activities aligned with 2018 Framework.
    • Emphasis on equity, deeper learning, and sustainability:
      • Equity: culturally and linguistically sustaining learning environments.
      • Deeper learning: mastery of civic knowledge and dispositions, with student-led civics and civic action integrated into curricula.
      • Sustainability: long-term improvements to civics teaching and learning (beyond grant period).
    • Competitive priorities for grant awards included: districts with schools needing assistance per accountability, districts with high low-income populations, and collaborative applications from multiple LEAs.
    • Grant cycles:
      • June 2022 cycle: 42 proposals funded ($1,012,114 across FY2023-FY2024).
      • June 2023 cycle: 29 proposals funded ($882,957 across FY2024-FY2025).
    • Appendix A lists specific award recipients.
    • Investigating History Expansion Grant (FC0116)
    • Supports expansion of the Investigating History curriculum (grades 5–7; pilots for grades 3–4, with expansion anticipated Summer 2025).
    • Collaboration with One8 Foundation; funds for professional development to deepen implementation.
    • Prioritization criteria included schedules, collaboration structures, full participation in PD, and commitment to implementing at least two units.
    • FY2024: 10 proposals funded ($63,700); FY2025 estimated additional funding (~$225,000).
    • Project Expenses components
    • Investigating History (curriculum development and support)
    • Civics Professional Learning Pathways (statewide PD offerings)
    • Statewide History and Civics Evaluation (research and evaluation)
    • Civics Project Showcases (regional civics science-fairs for eighth grade and high school students)
    • Student Government Day (legislative process simulations)
    • Media Literacy Review (planning for statewide media literacy landscape)
    • Employee Costs (contracted staff support for civics resources)
    • Miscellaneous/Indirect Costs

  • Distribution of funds to higher education or other stakeholder organizations: No grants to higher education institutions or other stakeholder organizations were awarded in FY2024 per the report.

  • FY2025 projections (FY2025 major expenditures anticipated to total $4.525 million):

    • Grants to public entities: $1,725,000
    • Civics Teaching and Learning Grant (FC589): $1,500,000
    • Investigating History Expansion Grant (FC0116): $225,000
    • Project Expenses: $2,700,000
    • Investigating History: $1,000,000
    • Statewide History and Civics Evaluation: $225,000
    • Civics Professional Learning Pathways: $1,000,000
    • Civics Project Showcases: $225,000
    • Media Literacy Review: $250,000
    • Student Government Day: $10,000
    • Employee Costs: $100,000
    • Note: Estimated FY2025 expenditures exceed the FY2025 revenue by about $2 million. The plan contemplates carryover funds from prior years to support ongoing activities.

3) Who Is Affected

  • Local Education Agencies (LEAs), including school districts, charter schools, and collaboratives, that receive direct grants to support civics teaching, professional development, and student civics projects.
  • Students in grades 8 and high school required to participate in student-led civics projects; curricula and showcases engage them in civic action and understanding.
  • Civil society and public stakeholders participating in Civics Project Showcases, Student Government Day, and related civics events.
  • Educators and school leaders who participate in Civics Professional Learning Pathways and other professional development activities.
  • Providers and partners in curriculum development (e.g., Investigating History partners, iCivics, Harvard Project Zero/Collaborative for Educational Services, etc.).

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Reporting requirement: Annual report to the Legislature (pursuant to Chapter 296, Acts of 2018). The report covers fund sources, expenditures, grants, and projections for the next year.
  • Fiscal year cycles:
    • FY2024 (reported): Funded activities and expenditures described above; grants awarded in two cycles (June 2022 and June 2023 cycles) spanning multiple years.
    • FY2025 projections: Planned expenditures outlined; however, anticipated expenditures exceed available revenue, relying on carryover funds.
  • Program timelines:
    • Investigating History curriculum: Grades 5–7; pilots for grades 3–4 with expansion anticipated Summer 2025; ongoing teacher professional development and PD pathways.
    • Civics Pathways: Second year in FY2025, including new elementary civics pathway.
    • Civics Showcases: Four regional showcases planned in FY2025 (continuation of statewide events).
    • Media literacy review: Planning in FY2025 with landscape scan to begin; full activities planned.

5) Key Takeaways

  • The Civics Project Trust Fund is a dedicated funding stream to advance civics education in Massachusetts, with emphasis on equity, deeper learning, and sustainability.
  • In FY2024, the fund supported a mix of direct LEA grants, curriculum development (notably Investigating History), statewide PD, evaluations, and civics showcases/events.
  • FY2025 plans are expansive and somewhat budgetary challenging, relying on carryover funds; priorities include expanding Investigating History, continuing Civics Pathways, evaluating frameworks, and expanding statewide showcases.
  • No higher education grants were awarded in FY2024; the focus remains on K–12 civics instruction, teacher development, and student civic experiences.

If you’d like, I can map the Appendix A and Appendix B grant recipient lists into a concise table or extract a compact one-page overview of grant amounts by program.

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

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