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National History Day Needs Your Help
National
History Day in Iowa (NHD) is one of the most popular educational programs run
by the State Historical Society, involving nearly 4,000 6th through 12th grade
students annually.
Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin has been a vocal supporter of National History Day helping revolutionize the statewide program by supporting a Federal Earmark. Now Harkin, as a ranking Democrat on the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, can help make sure that NHD receives federal funding to expand the program and make it stronger nationwide. The NHD mark-up is part of the FY06 Federal Education Spending Bill.
Although Congress has unanimously passed resolutions recognizing the need to improve the teaching and learning of history education, the Education Spending Bill does not currently include National History Day. The National History Day program is the only program that works with both students and teachers to improve the teaching and learning of history. A study reported that 95 percent of students showed academic improvement on history-related assignments due to the introduction of NHD.
“National History Day in Iowa is such a comprehensive learning experience for students,” said Naomi Peuse, NHD state coordinator. “Nationwide this program positively impacts how students learn. By appropriating $8 million as part of this bill, Congress will leverage a program that has a proven record, and this support will have a dramatic impact on all states—including Iowa.”
For more information on supporting the National History Day mark-up, visit www.nhd.org or to support the bill, contact Sen. Harkin’s office at 202-224-3254, Tom_Harkin@harkin.senate.gov or Pam_Smith@harkin.senate.gov.
Update on Iowa Great Places
Iowa
Great Places coaches from all over state government will be sent out across the
state throughout the remainder of this summer to work with the 145 places that
submitted Great Places invitations. Places that move forward in the process will
present “offers” to the Great Places Citizen Advisory Board in September,
and the Board will select three pilot Great Places in October. Many of the invitations
focused on visions for historic preservation and heritage tourism.
For more information, visit www.iowagreatplaces.gov.
