AUTHORIZATION:

Public Law 99-591, Public Law 099-591.

OBJECTIVES:

To strengthen secondary school teaching of the principles, framing, and development of the U.S. Constitution; to contribute to a deeper understanding of American government and to foster in both teachers and students the spirit of civic participation that inspired the Nation's founders.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

For future and current secondary school teachers of American history, American government, or social studies of grades seven through twelve.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   College seniors and college graduates without teaching experience (Junior Fellow) and experienced secondary school teachers of grades seven through twelve (Senior Fellows) may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   A Senior Fellow must be a full-time teacher of American history, American government, or social studies in grades seven through twelve and be under contract or prospective contract to teach full time as a secondary school teacher of the same subjects. A Junior Fellow must possess a bachelor's degree or plan to receive a bachelor's degree no later than August 31 of the year in which he or she is applying. An applicant must have a demonstrated record of commitment to civic responsibilities and to professional and collegial activities; qualify for admission with graduate standing at an accredited university that offers a qualifying Master's degree program (a Master of Arts in history or political science, a Master of Arts in teaching, in history, or in social studies, a related Master's degree in education that permits a concentration in history, government, social studies or political science) which allows at least twelve semester hours or their equivalent of study of the origins, principles, and development of the U.S. Constitution and its comparison with the histories of other forms of government (six of these required twelve semester hours of constitutional study may be earned at the Foundation's required four-week Summer Institute on the Constitution); and be committed to teaching American history, American government, or social studies full time in grades seven through twelve after the receipt of a Master's degree for a period of not less than one year for each full academic year of study for which assistance is received under a fellowship, preferably in the State of the Fellow's legal residence at the time of the fellowship award. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Individuals wishing to apply for fellowships must request application materials from the Foundation. Applications must include: (a) Supporting information which affirms an applicant's wish to be considered for a fellowship; information about the applicant's background, interests, goals, academic record, and an explanation of the applicant's educational plans and how those plans will lead to or enhance a career as a teacher; (b) an essay of up to 600 words that explains the importance of study of the Constitution:

1) To young students;

2) to the applicant's career aspirations and his or her contribution to public service; and

3) to citizenship generally in a constitutional republic; (c) the applicant's proposed course of graduate study including the specific degree sought and the courses to be taken that leads to a Master's degree; and (d) three evaluations that attest to the applicant's academic achievements and intellectual strengths and to his or her potential or proven ability as a secondary school teacher.

Award Procedure:   An independent Fellow Selection Committee will evaluate all valid applications and recommend the most outstanding applicant or applicants from each State for James Madison Fellowships. Applicants compete only against other applicants from the State of their legal residence. Applicants are evaluated on their: (a) Demonstrated commitment to a career in teaching American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary level; (b) demonstrated intent to pursue a program of graduate study that emphasizes the Constitution and offers classroom instruction in that subject; (c) demonstrated devotion to civic responsibility: (d) demonstrated capacity for graduate study, as well as proven potential performance as classroom teachers (for Junior Fellowship applicants) or proven outstanding performance as classroom teachers (for Senior Fellowship applicants); and (e) proposed courses of graduate study, especially the nature and extent of their subject content components and their relationship to the enhancement of the applicants' teaching and professional activity. In this regard, a content degree such as one in history or political science may enhance an application versus a MED or a MAT. Candidates recommended for fellowships by the Fellow Selection Committee will be named James Madison Fellows. The selection procedure will ensure that at least one James Madison Fellow (junior or senior) is selected from each State in which there are at least two resident applicants who meet the minimum criteria of eligibility and are judged to merit an award.

Deadlines:   Mar 01, 2009 February 15, each year for request of application materials; March 1, each year for receipt of applications for the James Madison Fellowship competition.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

From 30 to 60 days. April, each year the Fellow Selection Committee meets to recommend to the Foundation the appointment of Fellows; April, each year the James Madison Fellows are named by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation (applicants are notified of selection results); May, each year the names of new James Madison Fellows are publicly announced.

Appeals:   

Not Applicable.

Renewals:   

> 180 Days. Top contenders and applicants who were not awarded a fellowship are encouraged to submit a fresh application for the current year's competition. Top contenders may elect to sign a Resubmission Agreement authorizing their original application to be placed before the current year's Fellow Selection Committee for consideration for a fellowship award. A Fellowship Application Update Form is also provided if an applicant chooses to include such information.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

It is the intent of the Foundation to renew Junior Fellowships annually for a period not to exceed 2 calendar years and to renew Senior Fellowships annually for a period not to exceed five calendar years, or until a Fellow has completed the minimum number of credits required for the Master's degree, whichever comes first. Renewal will be in accordance with regulations established by the Foundation, subject to an annual review and certification by authorized officials of the university at which a Fellow is registered that the Fellow (if a Junior Fellow) is not engaged in gainful employment that interferes with the Fellow's studies and that the Fellow is making satisfactory progress toward the degree and is in good academic standing. In some cases, Junior Fellows may be permitted to study part-time and Senior Fellows to study full-time. The Foundation may suspend or terminate a fellowship when it obtains evidence that a Fellow is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree or is not in compliance with fellowship requirements. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Certification by authorized officials of the University at which the Fellow is registered.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Audits:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Annual financial records are audited.

Records:   Not applicable.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

95-8282-0-7-502.

Obligations:   (Salaries) FY 08 $2,100,000; FY 09 est $1,816,000; FY 10 est $2,250,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

Payments are made only for the actual costs and tuition, required fees,books,shared rooms and board for the pursuit of qualifying degrees. The maximum amount of each award is $24,000, prorated over the period of study. In no case shall the award exceed $12,000 for one academic year of study. Normally, Fellows receive less than the maximum amounts. Payments are made only for the minimum number of credits required for the award of the degree for which a Fellow is registered and for no more.

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