SEU’s ACPL Receives $1.12 Million Grant from Department of Education

LAKELAND, Fla. — The American Center for Public Leadership (ACPL) at Southeastern University (SEU) has been awarded a $1.12 million American History and Civics–National Activities Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This funding will allow the ACPL to expand its signature programs nationwide to reach more students, educators and communities.

The ACPL was selected for this grant due to its emphasis on experiential learning and primary source analysis, helping students think critically about historical events while fostering civil discourse and civic engagement.

“The ACPL has already had a significantly positive impact on encouraging young people to engage in civil dialogue and be active participants in their community,” said Cameron Rehbein, program director of the ACPL. “This grant is a wonderful opportunity that allows us to maintain our existing programs and develop new initiatives. We are thankful for all those who have supported us, and we are committed to stewarding this grant well as we pursue our mission of encouraging civic engagement among young people.”

One of the primary ways the grant will help the ACPL broaden its impact is by furthering the development of its Civic Navigator, a validated civic health assessment tool. Not only will it measure participants’ civic engagement before and after participating in the ACPL’s programs, but it will also provide broader institutional insights into civic health across partner campuses and communities.

The ACPL will also be able to increase the use of Third Way Civics, a nonpartisan teaching method coordinated by Ball State University. Third Way Civics is a one-semester course built around primary source readings, such as the Declaration of Independence or Supreme Court rulings, rather than textbooks or lectures. It’s designed to teach students how to determine historical contexts through critical thinking, problem-solving, and conversations amongst each other.

In addition to encouraging and supporting the practice of Third Way Civics locally and nationally, the ACPL plans to hold workshops for educators from across the country to teach the methodology behind the course.

The funding will also allow the ACPL to expand its civics curriculum training for schoolteachers and college faculty.