The Democracy Project loses third year of grant funding

The Democracy Project (TDP) lost its third and final year of federal funding from the Department of Education, according to a statement by TDP co-chairs Jenifer Crawford and Robert Filback.

TDP is a USC Rossier School of Education-developed curriculum designed to empower teachers nationwide to promote civic engagement in classrooms. The initiative was estimated to reach thousands of students annually and is aimed at “bringing USC’s leadership in democracy education to districts across the country,” Crawford and Filback, who are also professors of clinical education, said in the joint statement.

“It is urgent for schools to equip young people with skills to be engaged and collaborative citizens– especially in polarized times,” Crawford and Filback added.

Currently, TDP is seeking alternative avenues of funding to sustain its programs. “Despite [the] federal grant that accelerated this work being cancelled, the momentum is strong,” Crawford and Filback wrote. “We are seeking alumni and philanthropic partners who share USC’s commitment to preparing the next generation for civic leadership for a diverse and thriving democracy.”

TDP was funded by a three-year Department of Education grant in partnership with Teach Democracy, a non-profit organization that promotes lifelong civic engagement for teachers and youth.

The cuts to TDP reflect the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to undermine the Department of Education. The department faces further challenges due to the federal shutdown, including the furlough of almost nine-tenths of its remaining workforce.

This is a developing story.