Education Department Adds Patriotic Education Priority
Published Date: 5/22/2026
Notice
Summary
Starting June 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education is adding a new priority to support patriotic education in its grant programs. Schools and organizations applying for education grants can now include this focus, alongside other priorities like literacy and AI. This change helps guide where federal education money goes, encouraging programs that promote pride and knowledge about our country.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Priority Can Change How Grants Are Scored
When the Department uses this priority in a competition, it can designate the priority as an absolute priority, a competitive preference priority, or an invitational priority. Under an absolute priority only applications that meet the priority are considered; under competitive preference the Department may award additional points or select an application that meets the priority over a comparable application that does not.
New 'Patriotic Education' Grant Priority
Starting June 22, 2026, the Department of Education added a new supplemental priority called "Promoting Patriotic Education" for use in its discretionary grant programs. Schools and other organizations that apply for Department discretionary grants can now propose projects that meet this priority when applying for competitions that use it.
Definitions Set Required Project Content
The Department defines "patriotic education" as an "accurate and honest presentation of the history of America grounded in an analysis of the primary sources of America's founding" and defines "American political tradition" to include founding documents, key works of history and art, the influence of Western Civilization (including references to ancient Greece, Rome, and Judeo-Christianity), and a focus on natural law and natural rights. Projects using the priority should be grounded in those definitions.
No Dedicated Funds; Minimal Economic Impact
The Department states there are no funds specifically associated with this final priority, participation in competitions using the priority is voluntary, and the rule would impose no or minimal costs on applicants. The Secretary certified the action would not have a substantial economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (proprietary institutions defined by SBA as under $7,000,000 annual revenue; public institutions as those serving populations under 50,000).
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Key Dates
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