C. Johnson, collaborators receive USDOE Dialogue 250 grant to train teachers to celebrate U.S. 250^th

The U.S. Department of Education awarded an American History and Civics-National Activities (AHC) Seminars grant, Dialogue 250: Teacher and Student Engagement with Texts and Ideas Reflecting 250 Years of Self-Government, to Purdue University and the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC). The project will provide professional development seminars primarily for Indiana secondary social studies teachers (Grades 6-12) as part of the nation’s 250th celebration in 2026.

Chrystal Johnson, professor of social studies education in the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum & Instruction, is the Co-PI and Seminar/Professional Workshop Director, and will manage Purdue’s $524,000 share of the grant.

“Our goal is to equip teachers and students to engage deeply with 250 years of American ideas and debates about self-government,” Johnson said. “Through Dialogue 250, we’re creating spaces where educators and students alike can examine foundational texts, grapple with enduring questions of liberty and equality, and strengthen the civic literacy and dialogue skills essential to sustaining our democracy.”

This is the first collaboration between Purdue and LDC. Johnson will work with the LDC to help equip teachers and their students develop deeper civic knowledge, inquiry skills, and engagement using pivotal primary sources across 250 years of U.S. history.

“In this role, I’ll be working with the Literacy Design Collaborative on curriculum design, guiding Purdue’s team and budget, and partnering with several College of Education centers to recruit secondary social studies teachers (grades 6–12) across Indiana,” Johnson said.

“We are thrilled to see the College involved in this important grant and the opportunity to collaborate with LDC to support our social studies teachers across the State of Indiana,” said Wayne E. Wright, associate dean for research, graduate programs and faculty development.

About Purdue’s College of Education

Purdue’s College of Education meets the challenges of educating 21st century learners by discovering what works in education. The College prepares highly qualified educators and conducts research that informs how teachers teach and students learn. With a focus on integrated P-12 STEM education and a commitment to the success of all students, graduates are prepared to be leaders in education, business and society.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of #TheNextGiantLeap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes, and the One Health initiative (see Purdue’s Strategic Initiatives).

About LDC

LDC began as a community of educators determined to eliminate achievement gaps by providing all students with the same rigorous writing assignments that privileged kids already receive. Today, LDC creates assignments for most K-12 major content areas. LDC also provides professional support to help teachers adapt their practices and inject more rigor in their everyday classroom instruction.

Source: Chrystal Johnson