Education Heavyweights Launch The Story of America

An Innovative and Engaging New Curriculum to Teach Literacy and the Truth About U.S. History

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Oct 04, 2021, 13:05 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An all-star cast comprised of former U.S. education officials and an Emmy award-winning creative artist have been brought together by Richard Collins, a pioneer in interactive learning and President of the Today Foundation, to launch The Story of America, a premier online learning tool for schools and parents concerned about declining American history and literacy standards. The Today Foundation is developing The Story of America curriculum in coordination with former Secretary of Education and NY Times Best Selling Author, William Bennett, Emmy award-winning animation artist and former Disney Animations Studios executive Dan Kuenster, and Kathleen Leos, a former Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director to the US Department of Education.

The curriculum is currently in development and is based on Secretary Bennett's best-selling history series, America: The Last Best Hope. The series was lauded by many historians, as well as liberal and conservative education experts. The curriculum will be released in the Fall of 2022. It will be a bilingual program offered in both English and Spanish.

"For too long, an anti-America ideology that radically misrepresents U.S. history has infiltrated our education system and misled our kids. The need for a program like this has never been greater. The Story of America will shine a light on our current educational crisis and share the history of our country with the next generation in a way that is truthful, engaging, and gives students the full, complex story of America, which is sadly no longer shared in many of our classrooms," said former Education Secretary William Bennett.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, scores for reading comprehension and history have declined, showing the need for new tools to boost academic achievement. The Story of America is an interactive, easy-to-use online U.S. history curriculum for middle and high school students. The program, which satisfies U.S. History requirements, explores our nation's journey through time, while strengthening literacy.

The Today Foundation has a proven track record in creating engaging educational programs designed to help students achieve their academic goals. The Story of America is modeled after The Today Foundation's successful Texas History Awakens curriculum, an interactive online educational program focused on Texas history aligned to the state's Social Studies Standards. The curriculum is currently being used by thousands of students throughout Texas. The Today Foundation is now leveraging its success to bring this unique online educational experience into classrooms and homes throughout the country.

Educators who have used the Texas History Awakens curriculum in their classrooms had the following to say:

"I love it. I could see using this almost daily. Use it as a resource for our projects, and daily lessons and content learning. Utilize the content for our testing and teaching the TEKS. I think is an outstanding program and would love to use it more. – Steven Campbell, Denton ISD

"We have an online textbook, and this is MUCH better." – Angela Geiger, Coppell ISD

"I think it has been designed in easily, digestible chunks for students. The images and videos enhance the content." – Melissa Shaw, Region 10

"The Today Foundation's mission is to give the next generation the most innovative and engaging educational experience possible to allow them to take part in the America Dream. A truthful understanding of our nation's history, devoid of political activism, is an essential component of that education. The Story of America will provide educators, parents, and caregivers with an engaging online educational tool that strengthens literacy skills and teaches the real history of America," said The Today Foundation Founder Richard Collins. Collins is also the Founder of Istation, which currently serves over 4 million students in the United States and other countries with award winning E-Learning programs.

The Story of America team is comprised of experienced educators, authors, technology experts, and creative artists who have developed a universal approach to learning. In this approach, students are immersed in an engaging history curriculum powered by interactive educational technology that creates a multi-dimensional experience to integrate history and literacy skills.

A former Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director to the US Department of Education, Kathleen Leos has decades of educational experience, particularly around literacy. "Across our country, politics has replaced teaching at the expense of our children. Politicized classrooms have caused education standards to fall, leaving children without the proper core competencies in literacy and history. This curriculum explores our nation's journey through time, while also reinforcing literacy skills through critical reading and writing instruction using this innovative platform," Leos said.

Dan Kuenster, an Emmy award-winning artist and a former Disney Animation Studios executive, is creating The Story of America's multi-dimensional, interactive platform. "In order for any educational program to be successful, it must be engaging for the student. This has been our experience with Texas History Awakens and our creative team is excited to bring the story of America to life with this new interactive and innovative curriculum." Kuenster said.

Click here to watch The Story of America trailer.

For further information or to set up an interview, please send an email to

Victoria Kucharski: [email protected]

Josh Devin: [email protected]

John Hasson: [email protected]

SOURCE Today Foundation