Press Releases
Nationwide Competition on the Constitution Taking Place at National Conference Center
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Competitions on the U.S. Constitution for Middle and High School Students Being Held Near Nation’s Capital
WASHINGTON, Apr. 20, 2023 – Students from across the nation are participating in two We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national competitions on the U.S. Constitution on April 20-24 online and at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia. More than 1,000 students from schools ranging from Hawaii to Florida will test their knowledge of the Constitution and American government before panels of judges. One team will emerge as the national champion during the awards ceremony, which will be livestreamed on YouTube on Monday, April 24, at 8 p.m. ET.
“It is inspiring to witness the confidence, dedication, and true constitutional expertise of these students,” said Dr. Donna Phillips, Vice President and Chief Program Officer for the Center for Civic Education. “They have spent countless hours learning about the Constitution, our history, and the foundations of our American democratic system. They have been drafting their testimonies and practicing their public-speaking skills while deepening their knowledge and commitment to our country’s democratic principles. Witnessing them testifying on the fundamental principles of our representative democracy gives me great confidence in the future of our nation.”
This is the 36th year of the National Finals, which has taken place every year since the bicentennial of the Constitution in 1987. Fourteen middle school teams and 48 high school teams from 31 states and the District of Columbia will participate in this year’s events. Seventy-two judges have volunteered their time at the National Finals, while an additional 24 judges will assist with the National Invitational. The National Invitational, now in its 11th year, takes place virtually on April 20 and 21, immediately followed by the in-person National Finals on April 22-24.
Open for News Coverage
To avoid disruption of the hearings and facilitate news coverage, please contact Rebecca Reeder at 260-615-7745 to arrange entrance into a hearing room.
About the Center for Civic Education
The Center for Civic Education has long been recognized as a leader in providing civic education to K–12 students and adults, with its research-based curriculum reaching more than 42 million students and 440,000 educators in the United States and in more than 80 countries since 1965. Learn more about the Center for Civic Education at www.civiced.org. Information on the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals can be found at https://civiced.org/national-finals-2023. Information on the National Invitational can be found at https://civiced.org/national-invitational-2023. Photos of students competing in the National Finals can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/civiceducation/albums/72177720307622123/with/52775754370/.
Media contact:
Mark Gage
Center for Civic Education
805-794-7650
gage@civiced.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2021
CONTACT:
Maria Gallo
Center for Civic Education
917-705-7151
We the People in Context
LOS ANGELES and PHILADELPHIA — The Center for Civic Education and Context have announced a groundbreaking partnership to offer a virtual scholar series that will examine critical elements of our American democracy. “We the People in Context” will explore topics ranging from the fundamentals of the U.S. Constitution to contemporary issues with participants in the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals.
The Center for Civic Education is renowned for its “We the People” national academic competition, a yearly event for high school students. You can learn more about the National Finals and learn how to support the Center’s critical work here. Context is a cultural education provider, connecting global scholars with lifelong learners through online seminars and in-person tours. In celebration of their anniversary, Context has re-launched a selection of their most popular seminars to date. They are offering 15% off these “Context Classics” now through March 14.
“At this moment in our history, Americans are clamoring for clarity about what the Constitution says and how our system of democracy can ensure a representative society that protects everyone’s rights and honors our diversity,” said Christopher R. Riano, president of the Center for Civic Education. “Our partnership with Context will bring nationally recognized scholars to provide a firm grounding in the fundamental principles of American governance.”
“For 18 years, Context has been connecting passionate learners with the highest quality experts around the globe,” said June Chin-Ramsey, CEO of Context. “Our vision is to inspire lifelong learning by bringing context to our world, and we’ve always believed in the ability to bring people together through the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. That’s why I’m thrilled about our partnership with the Civic Center for Education—together, we will inspire the next generation of global-minded citizens.”
The online lectures will bring nationally recognized scholars to discuss topics that have been at the forefront of our recent political discourse, including Rick Bell of the University of Maryland, Ben Rubin of Drew University, Susan Sullivan Lagon of Georgetown University, and Jeremi Suri of the University of Texas at Austin.
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We the People in Context (pdf)FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2020
CONTACT:
Maria Gallo
Center for Civic Education
917-705-7151
Civics Reimagined: Center for Civic Education Launches New National Advisory Council
LOS ANGELES — The Center for Civic Education, the nation’s largest civic and constitutional education organization, announced today the formation of a new National Advisory Council. The Council will provide insight to Center leadership and staff on strategic issues facing the organization, which includes advice on programming, communications and long-term planning in the national civic and constitutional education space.
“This point in our history calls for a renewed focus on effectively teaching every American the core civic principles and activities that are fundamental to the healthy functioning of our representative democracy,” said Christopher R. Riano, president of the Center for Civic Education. “We have assembled a diverse group of national leaders from the public and private sectors, representing a wide body of expertise that will be invaluable in our efforts to move civic education into the 21st century.”
The National Advisory Council is composed of leaders spanning a variety of fields, including members of the judiciary, distinguished academics and private-sector leaders, all dedicated to the Center’s mission to develop an enlightened citizenry by working to increase an understanding of the principles, values, institutions and history of constitutional democracy among teachers, students and the general public.
The Council is chaired by Ken Barnes, chief executive officer of Options for All, a California-based nonprofit organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “I was fortunate to have a mother who turned civics lessons into a fun event, which created a lifelong appetite for engagement. Along with the fun, she also helped me to understand my role in sustaining our system of government,” said Barnes. “All of the members of the National Advisory Council are looking forward to using our collective experiences to support the mission of the Center.”
About the Center for Civic Education
The Center for Civic Education is the nation’s largest civic and constitutional education organization and is dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. The Center has reached more than 30 million students and their teachers since 1965. Learn more about the National Advisory Council and the work of the Center for Civic Education.
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Civics Reimagined: Center for Civic Education Launches New National Advisory Council (pdf)FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2020
CONTACT:
Maria Gallo
Center for Civic Education
917-705-7151
Center for Civic Education Launches Special “60-Second Civics” Series to Encourage Voting
WASHINGTON — The Center for Civic Education has launched a nationwide initiative to focus its signature daily program, “60-Second Civics,” on the right to vote in the weeks leading up to the November 3 national elections. Each day, 60-Second Civics will feature a podcast focused on elections, voting, representation and how those rights are protected under the Constitution.
“At the Center for Civic Education, we believe it is critical to ensure that all people have access to civics lessons that speak to our moment and bring to life constitutional principles like the power of voting,” said President Christopher R. Riano. “The ballot box is the cornerstone of our democracy, and I encourage every American to exercise our most fundamental right this year.”
60-Second Civics is a daily podcast that provides a quick and convenient way for listeners to learn about our nation’s government, the Constitution and our history. The podcast explores themes related to civics and government, the constitutional issues behind the headlines and the people and ideas that formed our nation’s history.
Each 60-Second Civics podcast episode will be accompanied by a Daily Civics Quiz, which teachers can use with the podcast as a warmup activity at the start of their history, government or social studies classes. The podcast will also include an audiogram, which is a captioned video animation of each episode. You can find the entire 60-Second Civics playlist on YouTube.
About the Center for Civic Education
The Center for Civic Education is the nation’s largest civic and constitutional education organization and is dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. The Center has reached more than 30 million students and their teachers since 1965. Learn more.
Follow Us
@60SecondCivics
@CenterforCivicEducation
Related Links
https://civiced.org/60-second-civics
https://www.civiced.org
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4W3bC8eWAuVNbMr57VIo3ImKko4DbpbT
Center for Civic Education Launches Special “60-Second Civics” Series to Encourage VotingFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2020
CONTACT:
Maria Gallo
Center for Civic Education
917-705-7151
Christopher Riano Shares Knowledge of Constitution with Trumbull High School We the People Team
TRUMBULL, Ct. — Center for Civic Education President Christopher R. Riano spoke to Katie Boland’s class at Trumbull High School in Connecticut recently to share his knowledge of the Constitution with the class of budding constitutional scholars. The students are preparing for the Connecticut state competition in We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, a program of the Center that teaches students about the fundamentals of the American Constitution and system of government.
“Today’s class with Mr. Riano was honestly such a breath of fresh air. It was so amazing to hear what working in constitutional law is like firsthand from a true professional in the field,” said student Georgia Perlah, a senior at Trumbull. “The opportunity to connect with people like Mr. Riano and ask him my own questions was incredible; I learned so much more than I anticipated I would in just a 45 minute class period.”
“It was inspiring to see the incredible dedication that the class put into their Constitution Day videos, which left little question in my mind that I wanted to see first hand how hard they have all been working, especially in the current classroom environment,” said Riano, who also serves as a lecturer in constitutional law and government at Columbia University. “Students like Ms. Boland’s are the future of the nation, and as the Center’s president it is my distinct honor to have had the chance to celebrate their accomplishments and to answer their questions about constitutional law and civic education. I look forward to having the chance to speak with other classes around the country in the months and years ahead!”
In what has become an annual tradition, Boland’s We the People students created a video for their school on Constitution Day, September 17, that was aired in all Trumbull High School classrooms. Other We the People teachers learned about the video through social media and shared it in their classrooms. In the video, Boland’s students, some sporting COVID-era face masks, explain the significance of Constitution Day and what the nation’s founding document means to them. They also recite the Preamble to the Constitution.
The students also created a music video inspired by “Hamilton,” the musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“My students completely surprised me with the Constitution music video. The best part of it was seeing the excitement in their faces as I watched their work. It was such a special moment that brought me to tears and made me so proud of our future voters,” said Boland. “We always say that our country is in good hands with our youth. I can attest to that statement with utmost certainty!”
Boland has been involved with We the People since 2008. She has taught We the People at Trumbull since 2012, where her students have won state We the People championship titles in eight of the past nine years.
To learn more about We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, visit www.civiced.org/wethepeople. Christopher Riano Shares Knowledge of the Constitution with Trumball High School We the People Team
Social Studies Innovation Network Releases Collection of Remote-Learning Resources
August 24, 2020 CONTACT:
Maria Gallo
Center for Civic Education
805-904-7411
LOS ANGELES — The Social Studies Innovation Network has released “Social Studies Distance-Learning Resources, 2020-2021,” a collection of interactive websites, games, and curricular materials that can be used by social studies teachers in blended- and remote-learning settings, as well as in in-person classrooms. The Social Studies Innovation Network is a recently formed group of curriculum and learning-game developers dedicated to advancing innovative approaches in the teaching and learning of social studies content.
The Center for Civic Education is a charter member of the Social Studies Innovation Network. The collection includes the Center’s Learn.civiced.org remote-learning platform, which features two free online resources for teachers: the We the People Open Course and the Strengthening Democracy in America online course and video series.
“One of the core challenges facing social studies teachers is the lack of teaching and learning materials that are backed by research,” said Christopher R. Riano, president of the Center for Civic Education. “This collection fills that gap. We are delighted to contribute our Learn.civiced.org teacher professional development courses, including the We the People Open Course, which is backed by research conducted by Georgetown University professor Diana Owen and her team at the Civic Education Research Lab.”
Most of the resources featured in the guide are backed by research demonstrating their feasibility for implementation and promise for supporting student learning.
Civics games feature prominently in the collection. The Center on Representative Government at Indiana University contributed “Engaging Congress,” a free game that uses primary sources from the Library of Congress to explore how representative government works.
Fablevision Games included its new resource, “Civics! An American Musical,” a web-based roleplaying game for middle schoolers that teach students about school desegregation, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and topics.
The guide also features iCivics, an educational organization founded by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor that offers 20 digital games, 18 WebQuests, a 10-step action civics unit, and more than 140 lesson plans.
To download the free guide, “Social Studies Distance-Learning Resources, 2020-2021,” visit https://files.civiced.org/pdfs/SSIN/DistanceLearningResources2020.pdf.
Social Studies Distance-Learning Resources, 2020-2021Christopher R. Riano Appointed as the Next Executive Director of the Center for Civic Education
May 1, 2020 CONTACT:
Pauline A. Weaver
Chair, Board of Directors
510-468-1753
LOS ANGELES — The Board of Directors for the Center for Civic Education is delighted to announce the appointment of Christopher R. Riano as the Center's next Executive Director. He will succeed Charles N. "Chuck" Quigley, who served as Executive Director of the Center's predecessor, the Committee on Civic Education, at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1965 and most recently for the Center after it became an independent organization in 1981. Chuck is broadly recognized as one of the most prominent curriculum and program developers in the field of civic education. The Board is extremely grateful for Chuck's decades of civic contributions.
The Executive Director leads the Center's work in promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy within the United States and in dozens of other countries around the world.
"After an extensive public search and canvass of the Center's extraordinary network, and following the consideration of many highly qualified individuals, we are pleased to announce the selection of Christopher R. Riano," said Pauline Weaver, President of the Board of Directors. "He is charged with upholding the Center's mandate to improve and expand civic education opportunities for all Americans and for citizens of emerging and established democracies around the world."
Riano brings a vigorous vision for the future as well as demonstrated experience working, lecturing, and writing extensively about the intersection of legal theory and systems of constitutional law, including his work serving as a lecturer in constitutional law and government at Columbia University. He also brings practical experience fostering democratic principles, including his prior service as an Administrative Law Judge in the State of New York and as an Assistant Counsel to the Governor of the State of New York for the Arts, Education, and Constitutional Law. He has volunteered for many years with the Justice Resource Center in New York City, a long-time Center for Civic Education partner organization, and he has served as a scholar for several programs at the Center for Civic Education, most recently at the Center's American History & Civics Academies. He has also served as a Judge for the Center's We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program in local, state, and national competitions and as a Judge for We the People: Project Citizen. His first book on the constitutional history of the marriage equality movement, co-authored with William N. Eskridge, Jr. of Yale Law School, is forthcoming from Yale University Press in August 2020. Christopher holds a Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University.
"It is a tremendous privilege to assume leadership of the Center for Civic Education at a time in our history that calls for renewed focus on civic principles. I am thrilled to carry forward the pioneering work that the Center has led for more than fifty years and I look forward to building on its critically important mission in the decades ahead." said Mr. Riano.
In support of Riano's appointment, Chuck Quigley added, "We have accomplished so much over the past years, and I am very pleased that I will be able to continue to support the Center as a senior consultant developing curricular programs. I want to express my gratitude to our network leaders across the globe for making the Center for Civic Education the leading organization that it is. I look forward to supporting Mr. Riano in his new role and am very optimistic about this next chapter of the Center's work."
Mr. Riano will assume the position of Executive Director on June 1, 2020.
(Press Release) May 1, 2020 Winning Back the School Year
LOS ANGELES — The end of April traditionally marks one of the largest competitions on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the country. The annual We the People National Finals, administered by the Center for Civic Education, was scheduled to take place April 26-28. In a normal year, more than a thousand high school students along with their teachers, administrators and families gather in Washington, D.C., for the competition.
This is no ordinary year, thanks to COVID-19. Rather than converging on Washington, D.C., more than 600 students will meet on Zoom in the rebranded We the People National Finals Challenge. The students, who represent 30 schools, will be competing from their homes in every region of the country, from Alabama to Oregon. The National Finals challenge is giving them hope, a reason to stay engaged and motivated in a world abruptly redefined by social distancing and stay-at-home orders.
The National Finals Challenge will be held on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of constitutional issues before competition judges composed of constitutional scholars, lawyers, historians and public officials. Students completed a comprehensive course of study on the Constitution to qualify for the competition, and most schools won their state competitions.
Results of the competition will be posted on Monday night, April 27, at 8:00 pm ET on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/CenterforCivicEducation/.
More information about the We the People National Finals Challenge is available at
https://www.civiced.org/2020-national-finals-challenge.
More information about the Center for Civic Education is available at https://www.civiced.org/
Open for News Coverage
To avoid disruption of the hearings and facilitate news coverage, please contact Robert Leming at 805-890-4059, Rebecca Reeder (260) 615-7745 or Maria Gallo at 805-904-7411 to arrange entrance into an online hearing room.
Winner of National Constitution & Bill of Rights Competition Announced
April 29, 2019
CONTACT: Robert Leming (805) 890-4059, Maria Gallo (805) 904-7411, Mark Molli (818) 916-7695
Washington, April 29, 2019 — After three days of simulated congressional hearings that tested their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, three schools took top honors at the 32nd Annual We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals.
The National Winner: Denver East High School, Colorado Teachers: Susan McHugh & Matt Fulford
Second Place: Amador Valley High School, California Teacher: Stacey Sklar
Third Place: Grant High School, Oregon (wild card) Teacher: Angela DiPasquale
A total of 56 classes representing 44 states came to the nation’s capital to participate in the academic competition where students demonstrate their knowledge of the Constitution before simulated congressional committees made up of state supreme court judges, constitutional scholars, lawyers, public officials and We the People alumni.
The panel of judges tested the expertise of the classes on the six units of the “We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution” textbook: What Are the Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System? How Did the Framers Create the Constitution? How Has the Constitution Been Changed to Further the Ideals Contained in the Declaration of Independence? How Have the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped American Institutions and Practices? What Rights Does the Bill of Rights Protect? and What Challenges Might Face American Constitutional Democracy in the Twenty-first Century?
More information on the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program is available at http://www.civiced.org/national-finals-2019 and http://www.civiced.org/programs/wtp.
The We the People Program is administered by the Center for Civic Education. More information about the Center can be found at http://www.civiced.org.
The 2019 We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals is partially funded by the tremendous effort of teachers, students, parents, and We the People state coordinators to secure community sponsors.
The competition results were announced at an awards ceremony Monday evening before an audience of more than 1,400 students, teachers, coordinators, judges and other program participants. The Award Ceremony, held at the National Constitution Center, included speakers Tom Kilgannon of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service and John Tinker of the John F. Tinker Foundation. John and Mary Beth Tinker were part of the landmark Supreme Court case of Tinker v Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969).
For a list of all the awards and winning schools please visit http://www.civiced.org/2019-finals-awards.
