Barat Education Foundation

Chicago, Illinois, 60622

Last updated on September 29, 2023
Grant awarded by
Library of Congress
Region
National
Organization Type
Non-profit Organization
Congressional District(s)
At large
Fiscal Year Of First Grant
FY 2006 [10/01/05 - 09/30/06]
Contributing Organization(s)
Organization description

Barat Education Foundation (BEF) was created in 2000 when Barat College was merged with DePaul University, building upon the values and rich traditions of Barat College. Since 2001, BEF has invested more than $2.5 million in scholarships and innovative educational programs, including Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources programs, that promote civic leadership and action, build communities, and advance social justice through collaborations and partnerships that empower teachers and students.

Project description
Citizen U facilitates student use of Library of Congress primary sources and fosters educator understanding of teaching with primary sources across grades and disciplines to prepare students for civic life through development and promotion of products created in collaboration between Citizen U, TPS Consortium partners, and master educators. The constellation of the Citizen U-niverse consists of three inter-related and inter-dependent properties, along with associated promotional channels, that support the overarching project goals.

Primary Source Nexus Teaching & Learning Portal
  • * Hundreds of curated themed resource sets
  • * Guided primary source analyses
  • * Lesson plans
  • * Literature links activity ideas
  • * LOC.gov search tips
  • * Strategies & tools for selecting and analyzing primary sources
  • * News, research, and examples from educators
  • * Tech tips and tutorials
  • * TPS Consortium Program links and partner spotlights
  • * Quick links to various sections of LOC.gov
Civics Resource Center
  • * Hundreds of free K-12 lessons from the Library, TPS Consortium members, master teachers in the field
  • * Civics + Social Studies, ELA, Science, Math, Art, Music, Spanish
  • * Elementary (early and later), middle school, high school
  • * Each lesson concludes with students making contemporary/personal connections
  • * Links to TPS Civics Interactives
NEA TPS Micro-credentials
  • * Developed in conjunction with the National Education Association (NEA) & TPS Consortium partners
  • * Job-embedded training in the integration of inquiry learning with primary sources across grades and disciplines using a variety of frameworks and strategies
  • * Free for NEA members and just $75 for all others
  • * Acquire digital badges and shareable work portfolios
  • * Earn 15 hours of PD that can be applied towards license renewal and salary advancement; graduate credit may also be available
  • * Support group on the TPS Teachers Network
  • * 8 asynchronous courses available
    1. Inquiry with Primary Sources
    2. Connecting Primary Sources & Technology for Formative Assessment
    3. Connecting Primary Sources with Historic Places
    4. Culturally Relevant Pedagogy with Primary Sources
    5. Multidisciplinary Civics with Primary Sources
    6. Pairing Primary Sources with Historical Picture Books
    7. The Question Formulation Technique & Primary Sources
    8. Universal Design for Learning with Primary Sources
TPS project focus
  • Micro-credentials
  • Teaching Materials
Content focus
  • Art
  • Civics
  • English Language Arts
  • Geography
  • History
  • Information Literacy
  • Math
  • Music
  • Religion
  • Science
Audience
  • Administrators
  • Classroom teachers
  • Curriculum coordinators
  • Homeschoolers
  • Librarians/Media specialists
  • Researchers
  • Students
  • Teacher candidates/Student teachers
  • University faculty
Level(s)
  • Pre-K - 2nd
  • 3 - 5
  • 6 - 8
  • 9 - 12
  • Adult learning
  • Undergraduate
Population focus
  • African Americans
  • Asian Americans
  • Hispanic/Latinx
  • Jewish Americans
  • Learners with disabilities
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Native American/Indigenous
  • Rural
  • Urban
  • Women and girls
Organization Contact
Julie Schaul
[email protected]
Visit website
TPS Products