Program to help Ohio schools teach founding documents

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Historical Society is unveiling an educational program to help schools comply with a new state law requiring that students in grades 4-12 be taught the original texts of the state and U.S. constitutions, the Declaration of Independence and other documents.

The Founding of America Documents Program launches in January. It uses some of the nonprofit historical society’s existing outreach strategies to help students and teachers learn about founding documents.

Through a grant, educators will have free access to relevant chapters of an online textbook and to professional development webinars meant to help them teach the topic. Distance-learning programs and field trips focused on founding documents will be available at regular prices.

Project coordinator Mark Butler says organizers wanted to leverage the historical society’s resources to benefit students.