In Missouri, Only 51.8 % of 4th graders, 42.5% of 8th graders, and 20.1% of 11th graders scored "advanced" or "proficient" in grades on state social studies achievement tests taken during the 2004-05 school year. This project seeks to improve student performance by offering a cohort of Missouri teachers from under-privileged and under-performing school districts across the state a graduate degree in traditional American History. In addition, the project will promote National History Day in Missouri with a series of statewide workshops, sponsor a lecture series open to teachers and the public, create hundreds of innovative lessons and distribute them electronically in a proven format, and improve the capacities of the project partners to support Missouri teachers and their students.

Fewer than 20% of American history teachers in the consortium majored in history, and the number of those with graduate degrees is very low. There is also a desire to increase enrollment in Advanced Placement history courses, especially among African-American students. Through this program, teachers will have opportunities to read serious monographs, work with primary sources that illuminate the changing definitions of freedom, and to learn more about the research in the teaching and learning of history that will guide their lesson and unit planning. A select group of teachers will also learn mentoring skills to assist younger colleagues who have recently entered the profession.

This project will improve student achievement and teacher knowledge and practice by adopting a detailed thematic content framework that specifies and organizes what participants will learn about traditional American history. The project's goals are to raise student achievement as measured by grade-specific assessments, to increase the depth and breadth of teacher knowledge as measured by core-based assessments, and to improve teacher ability to teach American history. To this end, the project will (1) adopt a detailed thematic content framework, (2) identify and formalizing best practices in an instructional specification, (3) engage all eligible teachers, and (4) implement an evaluation program to gather objective evidence of project success. A thematic content framework will underpin each and every Bricks & Bridges activity. The Framework is built upon six main themes that take into account Missouri's U.S. history core and the teaching and research strengths of faculty at Southeast Missouri State University, the Lincoln Library and Museum, and the Truman Library and Museum.