AHA Initiatives

Wooden chairs and desks in classroom with bookshelves in background
Mapping the Landscape of Secondary US Education

Americans care about how their history is taught, but they don't always agree. Mapping the Landscape of Secondary US History Education is the AHA’s multi-stage effort to provide a research-based grounding for ongoing civic deliberations about the teaching of US history in American classrooms.

TexasStateCapitol-2010-01
AHA State History Standards Support

As part of its mission to promote historical thinking in public life and professional integrity in history education, the American Historical Association monitors and offers guidance on state-level academic frameworks.

Pens of various colors arranged in a partial circle. Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash.
Legislative Advocacy Letters: Behind the Scenes at the AHA

What is the process of putting together a letter responding to state legislatures?

Freedom to Learn

Historians Speak Out

maxresdefault
Teaching with Integrity: Historians Speak

These videos feature historians describing how exploring America's past honestly in the classroom benefits the nation's students, and how the freedom to learn also strengthens our shared democracy.

Awards Ceremony
AHA Media Appearances & Publications

AHA staff and Council members have written articles and made public appearances highlighting the challenges teachers and educators face from legislation restricting the teaching of “divisive concepts" and issues related to teaching history with integrity.

AHA 2016 - Atlanta Georgia - January 8, 2016 - Undergraduate Teaching Workshop- Assignments #001
AHA Testimony Before Legislatures and Boards of Education

AHA staff and Council members have written articles and made public appearances highlighting the challenges teachers and educators face from legislation restricting the teaching of “divisive concepts" and issues related to teaching history with integrity.

firmbee-com-SpVHcbuKi6E-unsplash
Recent Action Alerts

The AHA will share action alerts with our members in states where legislation that may affect historians is under consideration.

Support the AHA's Advocacy Efforts

The AHA is unique among history organizations with the breadth and depth of our advocacy efforts. Our advocacy work is more critical now than ever before, and we need your help. If you believe in the importance of honest history education, please join the AHA as a member or donate to the AHA's Advocacy Fund to support our advocacy work.

AHA News

Tulips with US Capitol dome in the background
AHA Advocacy

In a wide range of situations, whether involving the rights and careers of individual historians, historical practice in diverse venues, or the role of history in public culture, the AHA has the responsibility to take public stands.

Stock_2024_LaptopMike
Press Resources

The AHA is pleased to provide resources for journalists and media. If you are a member of the media and would like to submit a request for a referral or interview, please email press@historians.org.

kelli-tungay-2LJ4rqK2qfU-unsplash
Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism in American History

In June 2021, the American Association of University Professors, the American Historical Association, the Association of American Colleges & Universities, and PEN America authored a joint statement stating their “firm opposition” to legislation that would restrict the discussion of “divisive concepts” in public education institutions.

AHA 2016 - Atlanta Georgia - January 9, 2016 - Poster Session 2 #017
History, the Past, and Public Culture: Results from a National Survey

With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the AHA partnered with Fairleigh Dickinson University to develop and implement a national survey to assess public perceptions of, and engagement with, the discipline of history and the past.