Partnering with University of Massachusetts historians and educators, Tsongas Industrial History Center, and Lowell National Historical Park, the district will create a long-term, integrated professional development program for American history teachers in grades 5 and 8. Graduate seminars, 5-day summer institutes, and research-oriented mini-sabbaticals for 15-20 teacher leaders will link with mini-courses and creation of a U.S. history resource center for all 5th and 8th grade teachers. The program aligns with new state history curriculum standards, which current 5th graders will be required to meet. Content focuses on the 17th and 18th centuries for 5th grade teachers, and the American Revolution through the end of Reconstruction for 8th grade history teachers.