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Jax State Awarded $2.6 Million Grant to Establish One of the First Centers for Civic Education in Alabama

Jax State earns one of the nation's largest U.S. Department of Education awards to establish Center for Leadership and American Principles

by Brett Buckner

Jacksonville, AL (11/12/2025) — Jacksonville State University was awarded a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education through its American History and Civics Seminars Program. This grant, one of the largest in the nation and the only award received in the state of Alabama, will enhance civic education for current K-12 teachers, students pursuing education degrees, and citizens across the state.

In addition, the award establishes the Center for Leadership and American Principles (CLAP), one of Alabama's first centers of civic thought and leadership, at Jacksonville State. One of CLAP's three missions is to improve K-12 civic education statewide, drawing from the proven success of similar centers in other states.

"The federal government recognizes that CLAP is in the same league as independent academic civic centers formed by state legislatures in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Ohio, Utah, and elsewhere," said Dr. Benjamin Gross, associate professor of political science and director of the grant. "This national recognition puts us in a unique position, as my team at Jacksonville State University has the skills and networks to improve civic education throughout the entire state of Alabama."

Over the next three years, CLAP will host three Summer Civics Seminars. These state-wide programs will offer professional development focused on the honest teaching of America's principles and history for at least 525 current and 150 future teachers. Educators will gain a deeper understanding of America's founding principles through primary source readings, Socratic-led discussions, expert panels, classroom application sessions, keynote presentations, and field trips to key locations along the Civil Rights Trail.

"Our goal is to reach as many teachers across Alabama as possible," said Dr. Russell Hammack, professor in the Department of Teacher Education and a co-director of the grant. "I believe the long-term impact will be immeasurable, as supporting teachers in civics education not only enhances their instructional practice but also enriches the learning experiences of their students."

Dr. Brandon Gilliland, assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education and co-director of the grant, was instrumental in ensuring Jacksonville State's proposal demonstrated a statewide need, a proven model to address this challenge, and broad partnerships across Alabama to deliver this solution.

"Jacksonville State's long record of excellence in teacher preparation, its network of school-system partnerships, and its ability to pair research-informed practice with extensive fieldwork made the university a strong host for a statewide civics initiative," Dr. Gilliland said. "CLAP positions Jax State as a statewide hub for civic education."

As the state's largest producer of teachers, Jacksonville State's history of civic engagement and educator excellence makes it the ideal institution to lead Alabama's civic-education efforts. CLAP's work is especially needed given that the Educating for American Democracy project finds that the national government has spent $0.50 per student annually on civic education, compared to $50 per student annually on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The need for civic education is even greater in Alabama, where 74.2 percent of public schools receive Title I assistance.

Before joining Jax State, Dr. Gilliland spent 16 years as a social sciences teacher in Talladega County, including teaching AP U.S. Government and Politics at Munford High School. That experience, especially working with rural and mixed-resource schools, underscored a persistent need for greater civic education.

"Teachers want structured, standards-aligned civic learning with ready-to-teach primary-source materials, time-efficient formative assessments, and ongoing coaching," he said. "This grant allows us to support these teachers by providing them with content, experiences, networks, and tools to be successful in teaching the truth of American civics, history, and principles, which will inspire a new generation of leaders."

Dr. Gross shared that this award makes CLAP not only a hub for civic education in Alabama but also a key player in the federal growth of centers of civic thought and leadership. The Summer Civics Seminars will help connect numerous networks together.

Content experts from other centers of civic thought and leadership, civic education pedagogy experts - such as iCivics, Thinking Nation, and the Center for American Civics -, private foundations - like the Jack Miller Center -, the Alabama Council for Social Studies Teachers, the State of Alabama Department of Education, Alabama Public Television, and multiple members of government - such as U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, and U.S. Senator Katie Britt, all wrote letters supporting Jacksonville State. CLAP's director and co-directors are bringing these supporters and others together, which makes its work integral in the growth of these centers of civic thought and leadership.

"I'm looking forward to carrying this momentum not only into the specific project of this grant, but to fully developing CLAP, as I think all Americans can agree that the honest teaching of American principles, civics, and leadership needs to exist on college campuses." Dr. Gross said. "CLAP's mission of developing thoughtful American citizens, who can be leaders in their communities, states, and nation, embraces the university's mission to prepare our students to be competent, ethical, engaged, and responsible citizens."

About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers' college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1, or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

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