News from the Center for Civic Education

Help Send High-Need Students to the Congressional Academy, Apply for the 2020 Presidential and Congressional Academies, Amy Gallaway Named Alaska Teacher of the Year, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Empower the Next Generation This #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday, December 3, is a movement to support nonprofits that produce positive change in the world. This year, you can help the Center for Civic Education develop the next generation of informed and responsible young people by donating to the Congressional Academy for American History & Civics. The Academy is a two-week immersive educational experience for high school students that strengthens their ability to effectively and responsibly engage in government and civic life. Your donation will help fund the costs for 5 high-need students to come to the Academy in July 2020.

Learn more.

Now Accepting Applications for Free Student and Teacher Institutes!

The Center is now accepting applications from high-need high school students and teachers for the 2020 Presidential and Congressional Academies. The Academies will be held in Baltimore on July 11-25, 2020

Longtime We the People Teacher Named Alaska Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Amy Gallaway, who was recently named 2020 Alaska Teacher of the Year! Gallaway received the news at a surprise assembly on October 25 at West Valley High School in Fairbanks, where she teaches We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. Education Commissioner Michael Johnson told the assembled students and staff that Gallaway "doesn't just teach democracy, she has you do democracy." Gallaway said, "The extensive professional development I received from the Center, as well as the expertise of the scholars and mentors have contributed immeasurably to my success as a teacher."

Little Citizens Showcase Features Bosnian Preschoolers

Preschoolers in Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrated their democratic knowledge and skills through art and role play at Civitas BiH's 6th Little Citizens Showcase. The showcase culminated 120 hours of study related to the four concepts in the Foundations of Democracy curriculum.

Charles N. Quigley Interviewed About Civic Education for Marketplace Radio Show

Center Executive Director Charles N. Quigley was featured in a November 6 story about civic education on the Marketplace public radio show. "Very few people in the United States understand the [political] system," said Quigley. "And that's a major problem with people consuming what's going on now, with the move to impeach the president and so forth, that people don't even know how impeachment works."

Two New We the People Textbooks Available

The Center published two We the People textbooks this summer for elementary students. We the People: The Citizen & Democracy introduces students in grades 3-5 to the foundational ideas of American representative democracy. A new fourth edition of the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution Level 1 textbook for upper elementary students has also been released. This completely updated edition contains new content and images. The teacher's guide for each book provides section-by-section suggestions for teaching the lessons. Both books are accompanied by online student and teacher resource centers.

Quick Quiz! Which state does not require voter registration?

A. South Carolina
B. South Dakota
C. North Carolina
D. North Dakota

Read on to learn the answer!

How Has the Role of the President Changed Since the Founding of the Nation?

In this video from the We the People Open Course, scholar David Adler explains the role of the president and the expansion of presidential power since the Founding era. Adler is the president of the Alturas Institute, a non-profit organization "created to promote the Constitution, gender equality, and civic education." The We the People Open Course is a free, self-paced online course that features videos of notable scholars and accompanying online exercises. Participants journey from the philosophical foundations of the U.S. Constitution through to the modern interpretation and application of its ideals.

We the People Alumni Elected to City Commission

We the People alumni are making waves the Michigan's Upper Peninsula! Evan Bonsall and Jenna Smith, both Marquette Senior High School graduates, were elected to the city commission. The commission elected Smith as mayor. Bonsall is a 2019 graduate of Harvard University. Congratulations, we are proud of our We the People alumni!

Congressional Academy Student Produces Podcast

Congressional Academy student Jeffrey Lee and his fellow We the People students at Arcadia High School in California recently released a podcast episode about the importance of civic engagement as a way of monitoring and influencing public policy. The episode, "The Pendulum Swings At Eisenhower Park," featured coverage of a protest against the removal of basketball courts from a local park.

Center Resources Featured in Michelle Obama's "When We All Vote" Toolkit

The Center for Civic Education's Citizens, Not Spectators voting curriculum and several of its Constitution Day lessons are featured in the When We All Vote toolkits for high school and elementary/middle school students and teachers. When We All Vote involves schools in encouraging students and parents to register to vote. The nonpartisan When We All Vote program was launched by former first lady Michelle Obama in 2018. Citizens, Not Spectators is a voter education program for grades 4-12 developed through a cooperative effort by the Center for Civic Education and the Arsalyn Program of Ludwick Family Foundation.

Constitution Documentary to Premiere in 2020

Filmmaker David Garrigus is set to release "The American Constitution" in spring 2020. The documentary features noted authors, scholars, and historians providing their analysis and insights about the Constitution. Experts interviewed for the film include Gordon Wood, Pauline Maier, Akhil Reed Amar, David O. Stewart, Carol Berkin, Stuart Leibiger, Christopher Collier, Ralph Ketcham, Michael Meyerson, and Jeff Broadwater. Visit the American Constitution website to watch outtakes from the film, and consider donating to support the production.

Quiz Answer!

D. North Dakota (see episode 3728)

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Nevada State Standards Correlated to We the People

Nevada We the People mentors have correlated all three levels of We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution to the Nevada state standards. Correlations between the Nevada Academic Content Government Standards and the AP U.S. Government exam are also available. You can find them online here.

News from the Center for Civic Education

The Academies Are a Success, the Project Citizen National Showcase Rankings Are In, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Presidential and Congressional Academies Come to a Successful Conclusion

From July 7-20, 2019, the Center held a very successful civics and history education training Academy at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, providing teachers and students from across the nation with an enriching experience as well as memories that will last a lifetime. Just let the teachers and students tell you in their own words!

Learn more.

Project Citizen Showcase Results Are In

The Center is pleased to announce the rankings for the 2019 Project Citizen National Showcase, which was held July 30-31 in Calabasas, California. Seventeen projects in both the traditional and digital formats were submitted, dealing with a variety of topics from homelessness to school recycling.

Quick Quiz! Why did thousands of people march on Washington in August 1963?

A. They were opposed to the Vietnam War.
B. They wanted civil rights and job opportunities.
C. They were opposed to the Korean War.
D. They wanted the voting age to be lowered to 18.

Read on to learn the answer!

Update Your Civics Class with the New Upper Elementary Textbook

We the People for upper elementary school students has been updated! Featuring twenty-four lessons, We the People: The Citizen & The Constitution covers core elements of American representative democracy for students in grades 4-6. Don't miss out on the accompanying teacher's guide, which offers tools, such as multiple-choice tests, additional activities, and instructions for implementing the curriculum. Order your copies now! Table of Contents.

The Center Launches a New Curriculum: We the People: The Citizen & Democracy

Our new curriculum for grades $char_endash We the People: The Citizen & Democracy, is now available. This brief, introductory civics textbook helps build a foundational understanding of American democratic values, rights, and the responsibilities of citizens. Table of Contents. Sample Lesson.

Quiz Answer!

B. They wanted civil rights and job opportunities.

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

Presidential and Congressional Academies Being Held in Baltimore, New Funding for Project Citizen, Two New Textbooks Available for Preview, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Presidential and Congressional Academies Being Held in Baltimore July 7-20

Students and teachers from across the nation are currently attending the Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History & Civics at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland.

Learn more.

Project Citizen Research Program to Reach Hundreds of Students and Teachers

The Center has received a grant for the Project Citizen Research Program. The three-year grant will engage teachers from across the country in professional development and will measure the effects of the professional development on them and on their students, just as the James Madison Legacy Project did with We the People teachers and students.

Preview Our New Textbooks Online!

Our two new textbooks, We the People: The Citizen & Democracy (grades 3-5) We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution, Level 1 (grades 4-6) are now available as a two-week online preview. To set up your preview, first create a free account at https://learn.civiced.org/. Then email Valerie Milianni at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Be sure to indicate the email address you used to sign up for Learn.civiced.org.

Senators Sponsor USA Civics Act to Promote Civic Education

The newly proposed USA Civics Act by Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) is legislation to update an American history and civics grant program under the Higher Education Act. The act has been endorsed by Charles N. Quigley, the Center's executive director.

Nevada Supports Civic Education with SB193

SB193 appropriates funds for the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement to support the continuation of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program for elementary, middle, and high school students. Thank you to all the supporters who testified to the Nevada Senate Committee on Finance on their love for We the People!

60-Second Civics Podcast Celebrates Ten Years

Happy tenth anniversary to our very own 60-Second Civics podcast! With a total of 3,650 episodes, a culmination of 219,000 minutes (minimum!), we have covered topics that range from the origins of the Constitution to present-day issues and events. Thank you for joining us for daily episodes and the Daily Civics Quiz for ten whole years!

Watch Margaret Stimmann Branson Present We the People to Former Chief Justice Warren Burger

In this video from 1986, Center for Civic Education Associate Director Margaret Stimmann Branson addresses former Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, chairman of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, and other members of the commission. Dr. Branson spoke about the newly created We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program, begun by the Center for Civic Education in 1986, which eventually reached more than 30 million students and 75,000 educators throughout the United States. Dr. Branson passed away earlier this year, and she is dearly missed by her colleagues at the Center, who remember her tireless efforts to educate young people about the fundamental principles of American representative democracy.

5 Tips for Teaching We the People on Actively Learn

The reliable civic education lessons and curriculum of the We the People program now appear as e-books for middle and high school classes on the Actively Learn platform. The level one book for elementary students will also arrive at Actively Learn in spring 2020. All three e-books offer interactive tools for teachers and students, such as translation of text, highlighting and note taking, and manageable classroom accounts, that are adaptable for every classroom's needs.

Nevada Center for Civic Engagement Receives Substantial Grant from Gannett

The Gannett Foundation has awarded $50,000 to the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement as part of its "A Community Thrives" program. With this funding, the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement will be able to continue in its mission to increase civic engagement in the state's communities, and it will give 800 youth from 34 high schools the support to participate in the We the People program and its competitions.

Quick Quiz! By 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that

A. the population will be about the same.
B. the population will increase primarily due to immigration.
C. Americans will not live as long.
D. the U.S. will be less racially diverse.

Read on to learn the answer!

Sandra Stotsky Releases New Book, The Roots of Low Achievement

Author and academic Sandra Stotsky writes in her new book, The Roots of Low Achievement: Where to Begin Altering Them, about the ways in which public education has become dysfunctional and proposes some solutions. One way, she suggests, is to fund K-12 civic education programs "that restore students' understanding of who they are as individuals in this country's civic culture."

Teaching American History Hosts Free Professional Development Webinar Series

Teaching American History is hosting two free webinar series this year: Documents in Detail and American Minds. Scholars will engage in sixty-minute conversations and take questions from the online audience in real time. Both will offer teacher professional development certificates to complement teachers' participation in riveting academic discussion.

Quiz Answer!

B. the population will increase primarily due to immigration.

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

Two Textbooks Coming This Summer, Conference to Be Held in Morocco, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

New Civics Textbook Coming Soon for Grades 3-5

Do you teach grades 3-5? The Center for Civic Education is publishing a new textbook for your students this summer: We the People: The Citizen & Democracy. In eleven compelling lessons, We the People: The Citizen & Democracy introduces students to the foundational ideas of American representative democracy. Table of Contents.

Learn more.

Fourth Edition of We the People Level 1 Textbook to Be Released This Summer

A new fourth edition of the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution Level 1 textbook for upper elementary students will be released in summer 2019. This completely updated edition contains new content and images. Table of Contents.

In Memoriam: Margaret Stimmann Branson

Long-serving Center for Civic Education associate director Dr. Margaret Branson passed away on Wednesday, May 15. Dr. Branson made remarkable contributions to civic education in the United States and throughout the world. She was the author of numerous textbooks and professional articles. Dr. Branson was a principal researcher and author of We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution, the National Standards for Civics and Government, and many other works.

33rd International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement

The 2020 International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement will be hosted by the Moroccan Center for Civic Education, our Civitas International Programs partner, on January 3-10, 2020, in Marrakech, Morocco. Presentation proposals are being accepted through June 15. Registration opens soon!

Apartments Dedicated in Honor of Board President Pauline Weaver

Pauline Weaver, president of the Center for Civic Education Board of Directors, has been honored by Eden Housing with the opening of the new Pauline Weaver Senior Apartments in Fremont, California. Weaver has long been an advocate in her community for affordable housing in California.

Quick Quiz! Who introduced a resolution to the Continental Congress on June 7, 1776, calling for a declaration of independence?

A. Benjamin Franklin
B. George Washington
C. Richard Henry Lee
D. Patrick Henry

Read on to learn the answer!

Sondra Cosgrove and Teacher Kathy Durham Win Jean Ford Democracy Award

Sondra Cosgrove, We the People scholar and judge, and We the People teacher Kathy Durham won this year's Jean Ford Democracy Award. The award, sponsored by the Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy, is designed to honor Nevadans who have played a key role in promoting participatory democracy in the state.

Summer Online Course: Educating for Informed & Equitable Voting

Teachers and schools play a large part in increasing students' engagement as citizens, voters, and participants in government. This is the premise of a new online course from the University of California, Riverside, starting June 17.

Quiz Answer!

C. Richard Henry Lee

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

We the People National Finals and National Invitational Held in Washington, D.C., and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Denver East High School Places First in We the People National Finals

More than a thousand We the People students took part in the We the People national competitions this April and May, impressing panels of judges with their knowledge of the Constitution and applying constitutional principles in their lives. Denver East High School captured the championship at the National Finals, and Miami Lakes Middle School placed first at the National Invitational. Guest speaker John Tinker said at the awards ceremony, "Meeting so many of you, it's given me a great deal of confidence that we can be optimistic that there might be solutions out there, and that you all are going to help to find them."

In Memoriam: Margaret Stimmann Branson

Long-serving Center for Civic Education associate director, Dr. Margaret Branson, passed away on Wednesday, May 15. Margaret Branson made remarkable contributions to civic education in the United States and throughout the world.

American Judges Foundation Makes Major Donation to Support Civic Education

The Center for Civic Education's programs have been greatly assisted by the active involvement of judges and justices since their inception. Many judges have given countless hours and days of their personal time over the decades to help the Center to promote high-quality education for democracy, and have made significant financial donations that serve our programs.

Randi Weingarten Highlights We the People in National Press Club Speech

The We the People program, of which Ms. Weingarten was a teacher, was the only example she cited in a recent speech in which teachers are allowed creativity and agency. As a result, she saw "powerful learning" within students. "We'd spend hours after $char_endash in teams, deciding their best arguments, practicing and polishing. We developed deep relationships with each other and a meaningful understanding of the Constitution."

We the People Teacher Ryan Ruttan Wins Educator of the Year Award

Ryan Ruttan, We the People teacher from Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, won the Kiwanis Educator of the Year Award! Ruttan was nominated by Rancho High School's assistant principal for the fun and engaging ways that he inspires students, but also for his commitment to fostering deep academic and civic engagement in the classroom with the We the People program.

Quick Quiz! Tinker v. Des Moines School District was about

A. freedom of expression in school newspapers.
B. students wearing armbands to protest the Vietnam War.
C. prayer at school sporting events.
D. racial segregation at public schools.

Read on to learn the answer!

Donate to the Center for Civic Education

In 1987, we developed the We the People program, and it was adopted by the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution as the principal education program of the federal Constitution's bicentennial. It was chaired by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. It is because of your ongoing support that we have been able to run this program since it was developed in 1987. With your continued help, we can ensure that civic education is a vital part of every student's education. Your donation to the Center for Civic Education helps us towards this goal and is tax-deductible.

Congressman Cicilline Visits We the People Class in Rhode Island

Before students attend the We the People National Finals or National Invitational, they spend all year preparing by studying the textbook, learning about history and current events, and practicing their answers to the hearing questions. They compete in local and state competitions. One class from North Smithfield High School in Rhode Island even had help from their congressman!

Quiz Answer!

B. students wearing armbands to protest the Vietnam War.

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

We the People National Competitions Are Here, Moina Shaiq Wins Women's Hall of Fame Award, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

We the People National Competitions Taking Place Soon!

High school teams will compete in the We the People National Finals from April 26 to April 29, and middle school teams will compete in the We the People National Invitational from May 3 to May 6. The awards ceremonies for both events will be livestreamed on our Facebook page.

Moina Shaiq Receives Women's Hall of Fame Award

Moina Shaiq, a member of the Center for Civic Education Board of Directors, received a 2019 Women's Hall of Fame Award from Alameda County, California. Nominated by Pauline Weaver, Shaiq founded and runs the "Meet a Muslim" program. Her community service award highlights the work she does to break down stereotypes and educate her community.

Associate Director Mark Molli Meets with International Visitors Council Group

On March 27, Center Associate Director Mark Molli met with an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) group at the Meridian International Center. The group, representing fifteen countries, is part of a project titled "21st Century Changemakers: Education Leaders Advance Civic Engagement Among High School Youth." It included representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, the Republic of Kosovo, Latvia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Tajikistan.

Constitution 101 Online Course Teaches the Basics of the Constitution

This spring, the online Constitution 101 course helped adults learn the fundamentals of the Constitution. The archived lessons are available for learners of all ages to increase their knowledge and become more informed citizens!

Quick Quiz! Later in life, Jefferson wrote that his writing "was intended to be an expression of

A. the British mind."
B. the democratic mind."
C. the colonists' mind."
D. the American mind."

Read on to learn the answer!

S.B. 193 Proposes to Allocate Funds to the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement

Students, alumni, teachers, judges, and supporters testified in support of Nevada Senate Bill 193, making a legislative appropriation to the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement to continue the We the People program in Nevada. Republican Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner, a co-sponsor of the bill, has been a We the People competition judge for over five years!

Federal Bar Association Makes Impact with the National Community Outreach Project

The Federal Bar Association's (FBA) National Community Outreach Project will work to reach out to young people and their communities for the fourth year in a row to instill confidence in the judicial system. Middle and high school students will visit courthouses, meet lawyers, observe court proceedings, and have conversations directly with federal judges.

Center Materials Featured in "Remembering Injustice" from California State University

As part of its Expository Writing and Reading Curriculum (ERWC), California State University is publishing a module called "Remembering Injustice" using materials from the Center for Civic Education. This module of the ERWC offers teachers and students in grade nine an opportunity to prep for college-level coursework while still in high school.

Quiz Answer!

D. the American mind."

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

Women's History Month, the Success of JMLP, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Deadline Extended for Presidential and Congressional Academies Applications

High school teachers and students: join expert scholars and mentor teachers at Goucher College, Maryland, on July 7-20, 2019! This free, expenses-paid immersive experience will include discussion, research activities, and field trips to national historic sites. Preference will be given to teams of one teacher and two high-need students from the same school or district. Apply by April 1!

Learn more.

James Madison Legacy Project Increases Students' Civic Knowledge and Dispositions

After three years of hard work, the James Madison Legacy Project has proven to be a success. Dr. Diana Owen and her team at Georgetown University have found that students of teachers who completed JMLP are more committed to democratic ideals, have a more developed sense of public duty, become involved in their community, and recognize the importance of voting when compared to their peers.

John F. Tinker to Deliver Keynote Address at We the People National Finals

In 1969, Tinker and his sister were two of four students suspended from their school in Iowa for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. These students and their families were petitioners in the landmark Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines that is studied by We the People students. This year, John Tinker will speak at the National Finals and award one school with a Tinker Award based on its response to Unit 5, Question 3.

Tinker v. Des Moines Decision Turns Fifty Years Old

This February, the landmark case of Tinker v. Des Moines that protected students' right to free speech is fifty years old! The State Historical Society of Iowa led a celebration of the anniversary, speaking with Mary Beth and John Tinker who were plaintiffs in the case after wearing black armbands to school to protest against the Vietnam War. Both siblings are supporters of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program.

Take Advantage of Free Lessons on Women's History Month

We have been celebrating this Women's History Month by learning about important women in America's history. Follow our Instagram and Facebook stories for facts about important women in history, as well as use our free lessons on women in history!

Quick Quiz! Which of the following statements about Mercy Otis Warren is true?

A. She was a leading Federalist and a noted contributor to the Federalist Papers.
B. She wrote pamphlets explaining why she did not support the Constitution.
C. She supported the idea of a strong national government and weak states.
D. She dismissed natural rights as the "fanciful concoction of learned gentlemen."

Read on to learn the answer!

California Attorney General Speaks at Thirty-Second Annual State Finals

This February, California held its thirty-second annual We the People State Finals in Sacramento, with guest speaker Xavier Becerra, California's attorney general. Becerra spoke about good government, the protection of constitutional rights, and participatory $char_endash that We the People students study extensively in preparation for competition.

Wyoming Sends Two Teams to National Finals, Receives Community Support

The Wyoming state competition took place on Monday, February 11. After an exciting day of simulated congressional hearings, Jackson High School (led by teacher Jim Rooks) won their first championship and Cheyenne Central High School (led by teacher Tom Bradley) finished in second place. These schools will advance to the National Finals to be held in Washington, D.C. from April 26 to April 29.

Accessible We the People Editions Now Available from NIMAC

All three levels of We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution are now available from the National Instructional Materials Access Center. NIMAC provides alternate media materials for blind, visually impaired, or print-disabled students as specified in the NIMAC limitation of use agreement. Below are details for our We the People textbooks:

We the People Level 1, Identifier: 9780898182613NIMAS

We the People Level 2, Identifier: 9780898182200NIMAS

We the People Level 3, Identifier: 9780898182187NIMAS

Visit the NIMAC website to learn more.

Quiz Answer!

B. She wrote pamphlets explaining why she did not support the Constitution.

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

Announcing a New Professional Development Opportunity, Closing the Civic Engagement Gap, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Apply Today for the American History & Civics Academies Free Summer Institute for Teachers and Students

Are you a teacher of high-need students interested in receiving free, high-quality professional development in history and civics this summer? Apply for our two-week American History & Civics Academies! This opportunity is also open to highly motivated students who will be seniors in 2019-2020. We strongly encourage teams of one teacher and two students to apply conjointly from the same school or school district. Space is limited, and the deadline to apply is March 1, 2019.

Learn more and apply.

How You Can Help in 2019

Let's face it: underprivileged communities have less access to high-quality civic education than more affluent communities. The Center has historically addressed this issue through its national programs that serve the diversity of the $char_endash schools, schools in rural poor areas, diverse suburban schools, and special outreach programs in Native American communities. You can help close the civic education gap. Donate to support the American History & Civics Academies, which will send students and teachers from high-need schools to an intensive summer learning experience devoted to improving civic knowledge and skills. We can't do this without you. Please consider making civic education your number one giving priority in 2019.

New Jersey Teacher CherylAnne Amendola on the Impact of Project Citizen in Her Classroom

Students from Montclair Kimberley Academy with Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake of New Jersey (second from right). Teacher CherylAnne Amendola, the 2017 New Jersey History Teacher of the Year, is at the far left. Amendola teaches Project Citizen to her eighth-graders. She writes, "Over the last decade, Project Citizen has given my students the skills necessary to be politically active citizens, the experience of being involved in a project larger than themselves and their own academics, and the confidence to use their voices in knowing that they can be a part of the change they want to see in their world."

Do You Have a Question about Civic Education? Post in Our Civics Forum!

Congratulations Becky Millstone and Jeannie Reich on being the first two winners of the Civics Forum swag bag. We want you to participate, too! Our next drawing will be on January 7. Join the discussion today on Learn.civiced.org.

Quick Quiz! What is one result of Shays' Rebellion?

A. The states were convinced that the Constitution must be ratified right away.
B. The debts of the farmers were paid by the state governments.
C. Wealthy merchants decided to forgive the debts of farmers in order to preserve the peace.
D. State delegates were convinced that the Articles of Confederation must be amended.

Read on to learn the answer!

Nominate a Civics Teacher for the Law-Related Teacher of the Year Award

The Korea Democracy Foundation recently hosted the ninth annual Festival of Youth Social Participation in Seoul. Twelve teams of students presented their Project Citizen portfolios at the national event culminating this year's Project Citizen implementation in classrooms throughout South Korea. Participants included 550 students from 94 elementary, middle, and high schools, who took part in the preliminary evaluation leading up to the final event.

Remembering Jack Hoar

Jack Hoar worked on behalf of civic education from the 1960s until he passed away this April. Jack (center) is shown here with Robert S. Leming (left) and Roy Erickson in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in May 1996. Jack first became a colleague of the Center in about 1967 when he was the social studies supervisor for Long Beach Unified School District. Upon his retirement in 1992, he became a full-time staff member, integrally involved in all major projects of the Center. He served as director of the Civitas International Programs from 1996 to 2003, when he retired. He returned to lead the program once again from 2010 to 2014. Although he retired from the Center in 2014, he continued to be a senior consultant until his final days. You can read a preview of Jack's article, "Citizenship: From Conceptual Learning to Active Participation," which was published in the Fall 2001 issue of Social Studies Review, by clicking on the link below.

In Memoriam: David Charles Ezhaya

Longtime We the People state coordinator David Charles Ezhaya passed away on December 7. David was a veteran teacher, having begun his teaching career at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish, Maine, in 1971. He retired from teaching forty years later, in 2011. Throughout his career, David was committed to teaching young people about American history and our system of government. Through his commitment to We the People, he helped hundreds of students gain a detailed knowledge of the Constitution and become informed and engaged citizens. David asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center. To express your condolences online, please visit https://www.DolbyBlaisSegee.com/obituaries/David-Ezhaya/.

Quiz Answer!

D. State delegates were convinced that the Articles of Confederation must be amended.

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

You Can Support Civic Education, Ask John is Back, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Support Civic Education for #GivingTuesday

On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, November 27, you can kick off the giving season by supporting your favorite nonprofit organization. By donating to the Center for Civic Education, you will help the next generation of Americans to become informed and responsible citizens.

Donate.

State Coordinator Profile: Cheryl Cook-Kallio

In April of this year, Cheryl Cook-Kallio assumed the mantle of state coordinator for the We the People Programs. She has been a teacher, a James Madison Fellow, an elected official, and a stalwart lover of the Constitution! Learn more about her in this month's state coordinator profile.

Join the Civics Forum and Win a Civics Swag Bag

Congratulations to Becky Millstone for winning the first ever civics swag bag from the Center! The next drawing will be on November 30 for anyone who posts in the civics forum on the new learn.civiced.org platform.

Quick Quiz! Ronald Reagan served two terms as governor of which state?

A. Alabama
B. California
C. Michigan
D. Nevada

Read on to learn the answer!

Nominate a Civics Teacher for the Law-Related Teacher of the Year Award

The American Lawyers Alliance is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year Award! Three winners will receive a certificate and a $1500 award at the Annual Meeting of the American Lawyers Alliance. Will another We the People teacher win the award?

ConSource and the Harlan Institute Announce the Sixth Annual Virtual Supreme Court Competition

The Sixth Annual Virtual Supreme Court Competition, presented by the Harlan Institute and the Constitutional Sources Project, will focus on Timbs v. State of Indiana. High school students in teams of two will participate in research about constitutional law, write appellate briefs, argue against other students, and participate in an oral argument. The competition is even endorsed by Robert Leming, our Director of We the People Programs!

Ask John Answers Questions from We the People Students

The Center for the Study of the American Constitution is rolling out the second year of its Ask John video series, which is available on the Center's website, YouTube playlist, and Facebook page. Scholar John Kaminski, the director of CSAC and expert on the Founding Period and early American constitutionalism, answered questions from We the People students on the Constitution in its historical context related to this year's state hearing questions. 

San Damiano Refugee Partnership Uses Citizens, Not Spectators

The San Damiano Refugee Partnership is using the Center's Citizens, Not Spectators lessons to help refugee students in grades nine through twelve to familiarize themselves with the election process and current events. Volunteers like Naw EhKu, also a refugee, work with Karen Refugees from Bishop Maginn High School in Albany, NY.

Quiz Answer!

B. California

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

Learn.civiced.org Is Live!, Resources to Teach the Midterms, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Learn.civiced.org Offers Free Resources for Educators and Lifelong Learners

A new platform is now available for learning about American constitutional government at learn.civiced.org! Watch scholars in the open course, participate in discussion forums, and explore a variety of learning resources for free.

Read more.

Teach the Midterm Elections with Citizens, Not Spectators

How are you teaching the midterm elections? Get your students primed to participate with these free lessons from Citizens, Not Spectators for elementary, middle, and high schools. A new lesson on the 2018 midterm elections is also available. Citizens, Not Spectators demystifies the voting process by teaching students how to cast a vote, how the voting process works, how to become an informed voter, and why it is important to cast an informed vote. The goal of the curriculum is to instill a deep and informed commitment to voting and increase future participation.

We the People Alumna Asks Wedding Guests to Donate to We the People

At her September wedding, We the People alumna Monica Lee asked for donations to the We the People program. "Now more than ever, I think the We the People Program is worth people's time and resources, since it provides at such an important juncture of kids' education insight into our democracy, which is important regardless of the field of work you go into," said Lee.

Quick Quiz! The election of Abraham Lincoln as president prompted eleven Southern states to

A. call for his impeachment.
B. obstruct every law he attempted to pass.
C. accuse him of treasonous behavior and sedition.
D. secede from the Union.

Read on to learn the answer!

Teachers Advocate for Creation of National Civics Award

Social studies teachers Michael Martirone and Jenifer Hitchcock are working to elevate social studies and civics in the academic world, and build recognition for the achievements of high school students in civics.

Researcher Studies We the People Program and Its Effect on Knowledge Gains

Georgetown University researcher Diana Owen is looking to answer this question: How effective are the pedagogies teachers employ in the classroom in promoting high-need students' acquisition of civic knowledge? Owen focused on the extent to which the We the People program and curriculum are effective in promoting student civics knowledge gains. (The short answer: it is!)

Beacon Hill We the People Team Hosts Michigan Senate Candidates

On September 17, two Michigan Senate candidates from Grand Rapids convened at an event at Beacon Hill, a senior living community. They engaged in a public discussion hosted by the Beacon Hill We the People team, who also timed and critiqued the talk.

"It is an amazing testament of how important We the People can be as a conduit of civic knowledge and life-long engagement," says Ellen Zwarensteyn, the executive director of the Michigan Center for Civic Education.

The Center to Conduct Presidential and Congressional Academies

The Center for Civic Education has received a grant of $2.8 million from the U.S. Department of Education for a five-year series of Presidential Academies for teachers and Congressional Academies for students. Participants will be immersed in the study of constitutional history and principles following the intellectual framework of the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum.

Support the Center for Civic Education with Facebook Fundraisers

When you raise money through a Facebook fundraiser, one hundred percent of the funds go to the charity of your choice. This is why so many of our followers have chosen to support the Center for Civic Education for their birthdays this year, but did you know that you can make a Facebook fundraiser on any day of the year?

Quiz Answer!

D. secede from the Union.

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

New Resources for the New School Year and More in This Month's Newsletter.

New We the People Resource Center and Scholar Videos Available

The redesigned We the People Resource Center is now available and includes the newly released James Madison Legacy Project videos. The We the People Resource Center is the companion website to the fourth edition of the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution Level 3 (high school) textbook. The JMLP videos, found in the Media section for each lesson, feature constitutional scholars discussing each unit of the textbook. Downloadable student questions and closed captioning are available.

Visit the site.

2018 Project Citizen National Showcase Results Are In!

Seventeen projects in both the traditional and digital formats were submitted for the 2018 Project Citizen National Showcase. Students dealt with a variety of topics from affordable housing to school schedules to HIV prevention, offering public policy solutions after doing extensive research in their communities.

We the People: The Citizen & The Constitution Available in Hardcover

We the People: The Citizen & The Constitution is now available in durable, high-quality hardcover editions for middle and high school teachers and students! Both the student text (Level 2 and Level 3) and their accompanying teacher's guides (Level 2 and Level 3) are available on the Center for Civic Education's online store.

Quick Quiz! Which part of the government has the authority to confirm the president's nominees to the Supreme Court?

A. The Department of Justice
B. The House of Representatives
C. The Senate
D. State Attorneys General

Read on to learn the answer!

Celebrate Constitution Day

September 17 is Constitution Day, when we commemorate the creation and signing of the supreme law of the land and to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens. This year, teach Constitution Day with the Center's resources!

We the People Teacher Chris Cavanaugh Wins Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year Award

Christopher Cavanaugh, a We the People teacher who taught at Plainfield High School in Indiana in 2018, is one of this year's Law-Related Education Teachers of the Year! Awarded annually by the American Lawyers Alliance, this award recognizes teachers who have made significant contributions in the area of law-related education.

We the People Students Win Civic Education Contest

Three years ago, third-grade students in Long Beach, Mississippi, worked together to study school security as part of Project Citizen. "It was this project that influenced Long Beach School District leaders to bring in the FBI and Homeland Security for a formal security survey."

#NationalNonprofitDay

Thanks to the generosity of our national network and community, civic education resources reach teachers and students from all over the country. On August 17, we celebrated #NationalNonprofitDay with continued thankfulness for your continued support!

Learning Policy Institute

The Learning Policy Institute has completed research that looks at how states are using different indicators in their state ESSA Plans, including college-and career-readiness. One recommendation is to support programs like We the People that "facilitate access to high-quality materials, align curricula across grade levels, and provide professional development for teachers so they can support college- and career-ready courses of study."

The Democracy Project Completes Research on the Need for Civic Education

The Democracy Project has completed a bipartisan report titled "Reversing a Crisis of Confidence," conducted by the George W. Bush Institute, Freedom House, and the Penn Biden Center, that addresses public attitudes toward democratic principles and institutions. One of the recommendations of the report is the need for greater civic education and specifically to "champion a stronger public understanding of democratic principles."

Quiz Answer!

C. The Senate

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

We the People Students Receive Recognition, JMLP Summer Institutes Begin, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

JMLP Summer Institutes in Full Swing This Summer

The James Madison Legacy Project summer institutes are in full swing this summer, engaging teachers in civics-oriented professional development courses across the country. Participants will interact with lawyers, judges, state and local representatives, and professors of law, history, and political science who provide expert knowledge to our teachers.

Read more.

Project Citizen Four-day Training Opportunity

Project Citizen will be the focus of a four-day summer institute at Touro Law Center in Central Islip, New York. "Digital Media, Civic Engagement & Student Voice" is offered by Project Patch and sponsored by the New York State Bar Association, beginning on June 26.

Quick Quiz! DHow many senators does each state have in the Senate?

A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Depends on the state's population

Read on to learn the answer!

Support Civic Education!

Your support is what helps us continue the mission of civic education, increasing the constitutional knowledge and civic engagement of young people across the country! Your donation to the Center is tax deductible and helps us bring smiles to the faces of all of our students and teachers.

Milford Central Academy Recognized by Delaware General Assembly and Governor

"These remarkable young Delawareans have brought great credit not only upon themselves and their teacher, Mr. Samuel Holloway, whose thorough instruction during this school year was of great importance in their preparation, but upon our entire State of Delaware, whose founding father John Dickinson was himself of central importance in the drafting not only of the U.S. Constitution but of Delaware's own state constitution.".

We the People Students Win Civic Education Contest

Congratulations to Kelsey Luu, Veronica Yu, Cindy Law, and Karen Thai! These amazing We the People students who wrote essays and produced videos for a civics competition run in nine western states by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Students addressed the theme of "The 14th Amendment 150 Years After Ratification: What Does Equal Protection Mean to Students?"

Turning Student Passion into Engagement

In an article about turning student passion into engagement, Randi Weingarten writes of her time as the teacher for Clara Barton High School's 1994 We the People team: "my students learned how to be democratic citizens by actively using civic knowledge and practicing the skills of citizenship."

Civil Rights Leader Dorothy Cotton Passes Away

On June 10, civil rights leader Dorothy Cotton passed away. She spent her life fighting for civil rights alongside leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, and Jesse Jackson. From 2002 to 2010, she worked with the Center for Civic Education at the We the People Birmingham Seminars, influencing hundreds of teachers from classrooms all over America.

Founding Principles Series from Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College has produced Founding Principles: American Governance in Action, an online series that gives an overview of government and politics. Narrated by Professor Andrew Rudalevige, each chapter offers extensive resources and tools for teachers and students.

Quiz Answer!

B. Two

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.

News from the Center for Civic Education

Celebrate Women's History Month, Get We the People Gear, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Third Annual JMLP Meeting Hosts Mentors and Coordinators

Approximately one hundred state coordinators and mentor teachers traveled from across the country to meet for the third annual James Madison Legacy Project meeting from February $emdash1 2018 in Los Angeles.

Read more.

Utilize the Center's Curriculum on Women's History Month!

There is still time in March to celebrate women's history with lesson plans on women who were leaders in the civil rights movement, women's suffrage, and more!

Quick Quiz! In what year did women gain the right to vote?

A. 1776
B. 1791
C. 1920
D. 1964

Read on to learn the answer!

Prepare for the National Finals & Invitational with We the People Gear

We the People gear, such as t-shirts, mugs, keychains, and more, are available! Get them in time for the National Finals and National Invitational.

Summer Seminars for Teachers at James Madison's Montpelier

The Center for the Constitution at Montpelier is hosting three-day seminars for K-12 educators this summer! This summer's seminars are Constitutional Conventions, The Evolution of Rights and Liberties, and The Mere Distinction of Colour.

Quiz Answer!

C. 1920

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Shop to Support the Center for Civic Education

Shopping on Amazon? Use this link to benefit We the People and the Center's other civic education programs. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center for Civic Education. You pay the same price for your purchases, but you have the satisfaction of knowing you've helped students receive the high-quality civic education they deserve. Bookmark the link and keep giving all year with every purchase.