Representative Mike Baham, chair of the Louisiana America 250 commission, told the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education about the commission’s education and outreach plans leading to the nation’s semi‑quincentennial in 2026.

Baham said Louisiana began issuing a standard‑issue America 250 license plate in January and that the state will host a range of events, teacher training and living‑history programs in every parish leading up to July 4, 2026. "We are the only state in the union that has done so," Baham said, referring to issuing the plate as a standard design.

Why it matters: The America 250 effort seeks to place Louisiana’s history and civic education in K‑12 classrooms and to attract cultural programming tied to the 250th anniversary. The commission plans to work with teachers, universities and cultural institutions to integrate events into curriculum and local celebrations.

Baham described a teacher symposium planned for Sept. 19 at Southeastern Louisiana University and said the commission is distributing lapel pins, flyers and a website, America250LA.org, to promote events. He highlighted recent living‑history programming marking the bicentennial of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 visit and said hosts hope to include reenactments, lectures and teacher workshops statewide. Baham also said he has filed a House concurrent resolution encouraging schools to display three founding documents — the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights — at each school at the principal’s discretion.

Baham said the commission is coordinating with foreign consular representatives and expects the White House to support parts of the national program. He encouraged schools and civic groups to engage and to submit events for the state civic‑education calendar.

Commissioners thanked Baham and asked staff to link America 250 events to the statewide civic education event calendar managed by the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education.