American History Toolkit

Section 1102 of Public Act 119 of 2023 established funds for the development of a comprehensive American History Toolkit (HTK).
This legislation allocated funds for the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to cover necessary costs to develop a toolkit to provide professional development regarding the teaching of the full and complex American history across subject areas including the histories of Communities of Color and other marginalized communities.

This page provides a glossary to help provide common understanding of terms, an overview of the HTK projectgoals, and content approval process, and contact information for the HTK team.

Communities of Color – As related to identity-based communities that may also share geographic commonalities, history, and current/historical experiences of racism. Given that race is a socially defined construct, the definitions of these communities are unique and ever evolving. Examples of communities of color may include but are not limited to the following communities: Africans, African Americans, Indigenous peoples, Latina/o/x peoples, Asians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and/or people who identify as Middle East North African (MENA).

Cultural Competency - The ability to effectively interact, work, care for, and develop meaningful relationships with people - including students - who hold identities different from one's own. 

Marginalized Communities – People and/or groups of people who have experienced social, political, and/or economic exclusion due factors such as race, gender identity, citizenship, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and/or language. Members of these communities are often subjected to discrimination, reduced access to resources and opportunities, and limited representation in decision-making, resulting in significant barriers achieving equality or reaching their full potential. 

Intersectionality - Today, this term is popularly used to describe and examine how an individual's multiple identities overlap to create unique experiences, how systems of oppression work together, and how individuals can experience multiple forms of oppression simultaneously. 

Full and Complex American History – A comprehensive understanding of historical narratives and various aspects that have shaped what is now the United States throughout its existence. This might include content from its pre-origins and origins to the present day. Content could also include a wide range of events, people, cultures, social, political, and economic developments, complexities, triumphs, struggles, and diverse voices, in both the past and present.

Project Goals:

• Continue online platform development.
• Continue adding and developing further resource supports.
• Publicize and provide professional development as related to this toolkit.

Content Approval Process:

The HTK guidance committee was created to reflect the diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives of Michiganders. As a result, the committee includes teachers, parents, academics, and community members and organizations from many different backgrounds. Members of the HTK guidance committee reviewed resources through an agreed upon rubric that met the intent of Public Act 119 of 2023 and ensures that each resource:

• Assists in teaching "full and complex American history."
• Centers the history/ies of marginalized peoples including Communities of Color and/or
• Supports culturally responsive teaching (Paris and Alim, 2016).

Watch: How to Use this Toolkit

Contact Information: 

Questions about around the American History Toolkit may be directed to Toolkit Project Lead - Hannah Franklin Grisham, Ph. D., GrishamH1@michigan.gov or Social Studies Consultant - Scott Koenig, KoenigS1@michigan.gov.