Garden Grove Gets $1 Million to Improve History Lessons

A nearly $1-million federal teacher grant that Garden Grove Unified received this week will improve how U.S. history is taught in the 51,000-student school district, officials said.

Garden Grove Unified, which will receive $959,014, was one of 17 California districts and the only one in Orange County selected to share in the three-year, $98.5-million program.

Garden Grove educators will collaborate with Cal State Long Beach on staff development sessions aimed at raising student achievement, said Frank Mackey, the district’s director of instruction for junior high and high school students. Also, the Calabasas-based Center for Civic Education will provide curriculum training on democratic principles and the U.S. Constitution.

“Teachers will build their content as well as their teaching strategies,” Mackey said. “We have students of different abilities in the same classes, so it’s important that teachers can present the curriculum in ways that engage all levels of students.”