Columbus Public Schools (CPS), in partnership with The Ohio State University's Department of History (OSU) and the Ohio Historical Society (OHS), will present History WORKS II: Building Foundations, a project designed to increase teachers' knowledge, understanding and appreciation of American history through an intensive, ongoing professional development program. By involving over one hundred of the district's elementary school teachers, this program will contribute to a renewal of American history in the nation's 16th largest school district and will lead to increased student interest and achievement in American history. It will build on the accomplishments and networks of History WORKS, the existing Teaching American History project for middle and high school teachers in Columbus. The success of History WORKS will be re-created for the elementary school audience.

Over three years, History WORKS II: Building Foundations will increase teachers' understanding of two core themes in American history. The program has three major components: graduate-level training, a web-based resource center, and a lecture series. The OSU-led graduate training, featuring school-year seminars and a two-week summer institute, will introduce teachers to significant readings and ideas related to the core themes. Teachers will use their enhanced content knowledge and OHS' archival resources to create curricular materials that they will share with their colleagues in print form and on the project web site. A lecture series featuring distinguished speakers and panel discussions will bring middle and high school teacher participants from History WORKS together with their elementary colleagues three times a year to build camaraderie, enhance sustainability, and make American history a central focus throughout the district.