The Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC), in partnership with the National Council of History Education (NCHE), the Kentucky Council for the Social Studies (KCSS), Georgetown College, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University and the Kentucky Department of Education, present American Success through Purposeful Instruction and Rigorous Education or ASPIRE.

ASPIRE will support the establishment of: (1) Presidential Academies for the Teaching of American History and Civics that offer workshops for 375 (75 per year for five years) veteran and new teachers to strengthen their knowledge of American History and Civics; and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics to provide 875 (175 per year) students with opportunities to develop a broader and deeper understanding of these subjects.

ASPIRE will use yearly themes are:

Year 1) 1619-1783: Creating and Defining a Nation;
Year 2) 1784 -1877: Preservation and Redefining a Nation;
Year 3) 1878-1917: Industrialization and Civic Evolution;
Year 4) 1918-1953: World War and Growth of Executive Power;
Year 5) 1954-Current: Civil Rights and Growth of Judiciary Power to provide over 98 hours of Professional Learning yearly through Presidential Academies, a five-day through a NCHE five-day Summer Academy presented daily by a Historian, a Master History Teacher, and a learning specialist. Teachers will also participate in a 4-day Experiential Immersion Presidential Academy trip to a significant historical city within the theme to provide further first-hand opportunities to pull from when teaching.

ASPIRE Partners:

Partners listed below will provide expert content to the participants of the project. Teachers will delve into readings about the time period to gain in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. Students of participating teachers will also be immersed into rich content during Congressional Academies with yearly themes. The goals of the project are to increase teacher content knowledge, increase student achievement and interest, create partnerships, and improve administrator effectiveness.