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U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan Headline Civic Learning Week, March 11-15, 2024

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

As students, educators, and public and private leaders participate in events across the country highlighting civics as a unifying force for 2024 and beyond, the U.S. Supreme Court Justices will participate in a conversation at Civic Learning Week’s National Forum, and the U.S. Secretary of Education and Archivist of the United States will be featured as part of an evening reception March 12, 2024.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 1, 2024 — U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, and Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan will join thousands of people across the country in focusing on the importance of civic education during Civic Learning Week, March 11–15, 2024.

Justices Sotomayor and Barrett will engage in a conversation for the Civic Learning Week National Forum at The George Washington University on Tuesday, March 12, at 1 p.m. ET. Secretary Cardona and Archivist Shogan will engage in a fireside chat at the forum’s closing reception at The National Archives, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The two conversations come as part of Civic Learning Week, an annual nonpartisan event that brings together students, educators, policymakers, and leaders in the public and private sectors to highlight and further energize the movement for civic education in states and communities across the nation. This year’s theme, “2024 and Beyond: Civic Learning as a Unifying Force,” focuses on the need to make civics a national priority and a means to combat polarization.

Now in its second year as a nationwide celebration, Civic Learning Week includes hundreds of online and in-person events driving home understanding of what a modern civic education needs, and how the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that civics engenders can sustain and strengthen constitutional democracy and build civil discourse and understanding.

Civic Learning Week is sponsored by iCivics, A More Perfect Union, the Carnegie Corporation of New York; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service at George Washington University, Microsoft, More Perfect, the National Archives and National Archives Foundation, and the National Council for the Social Studies.

“Civic learning is a requirement for a healthy democracy. It can be a unifying force for our country, particularly during times of deep division,” said iCivics CEO Louise Dubé. “Civic Learning Week will provide examples of how educators and communities are finding paths forward to bolster the knowledge, skills, and dispositions essential for engaging productively across differences—a hallmark of democracy—and bridging divides.”

The National Forum, which is open to the media, will take place at George Washington University starting at 8 a.m. ET on March 12. It also include panel discussions across several key themes that show how civics can act as a unifying force:

  • How Disinformation (Including AI) Impacts Civic Learning and What We Can Do: Moderated by The New York Times Technology Reporter Tiffany Hsu, and including FRONTLINE Senior Editor Erin Texeira and Digital Inquiry Group Founder Sam Wineburg.
  • Overcoming Political Polarization Through Investment in Civic Learning: Moderated by James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University Danielle Allen, and including Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera, Middlebury College President Laurie Patton; and state and local educators.
  • Teaching Civics During the 2024 Elections—Can It Be Done?: Moderated by George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development Dean and Professor of Education Michael Feuer, and including University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education Professor Jonathan Zimmerman and D.C.-area school educators.

The National Forum will also include the release of several pieces of new research on civic education, as well as breakout sessions tied to the themes of the day. The Forum and closing reception are open to media and will be live streamed at civiclearningweek.org/national-forum.

A full list of local and national events that will take place during Civic Learning Week is available at civiclearningweek.org/events

New Game Teaches Students the Skills Needed for Local Involvement

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

iCivics has partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to release a new online game that introduces students to the skills needed to engage responsibly in their local communities.

Neighborhood Good is a classroom game that invites players to learn about the issues impacting a fictional community and engage with community members in order to address those challenges.

While playing Neighborhood Good, students select a challenge facing their fictional community, such as access to fresh food deserts, resourcing of schools, limited access to healthcare providers, or food waste removal. The game directs players through the process of talking with other community members to understand the problems, identify possible solutions, and figure out what resources are available. Through these conversations, students develop a plan to address the issue and see if and how it works. Neighborhood Good allows students to build the muscle and capacity for civic engagement through making choices, receiving immediate feedback, and revising their community plans.

Designed primarily for middle and upper elementary school students, the game and accompanying educator resources are available for free at iCivics.org. Neighborhood Good has support for English and multilingual learners, as well as a full Spanish-language version.

“Neighborhood Good helps students build the skills and muscles needed to work together with their neighbors and fellow residents to fix everyday problems in a safe, nonpolitical environment,” said iCivics Chief Education Officer Emma Humphries. “We are grateful to our partners at the Department of Defense for their insight into the power of local involvement.”

iCivics developed the game in partnership with DoD STEM, the Department of Defense’s education and employment initiative to inspire, cultivate, and develop talent for the modern workforce. The game was funded as part of a through grant from the DoD to the iCivics’ Civics, Service, and Leadership (iCSL) program for students exploring careers in the military and public service.

Through iCSL, iCivics is developing new resources, such as Neighborhood Good, and is working with teachers and students to approach civic education as an opportunity for building leadership skills and a service mindset. iCSL’s goal is to teach how the U.S. government works, and how to use that knowledge for the betterment of individuals and communities. The program also offers access to curriculum, a network of peers and master teachers, and professional development for educators.

The Department of Defense, through its National Defense Education Program (NDEP), has invested in civic education because it sees the lack of civic knowledge evident in the most recent NAEP Civics as a matter of national security, both internally and externally. It sees community involvement and volunteerism as key tools to combat these challenges.

New Supreme Court Simulations Engage Students Through Media-Rich, Whole-Class Experiences

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

iCivics launched Supreme Decision, a new simulation tool that equips teachers to guide their classrooms through a collaborative experience in which students explore different perspectives and work together to navigate landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases in U.S. history.

Supreme Decision simulations—iCivics’ first multiplayer offering—help educators turn their classroom into the Supreme Court as students are assigned the role of Petitioner, Respondent, or Supreme Court Justice. Students are guided through a web-based in-person experience where they learn about judicial lenses, are introduced to facts of the case, prepare for and present arguments, deliberate and rule, and finally discuss the results and reflect on the experience. The simulation is designed to bring the workings of the Supreme Court to life while giving students a first-person, active role in debating and deciding cases about topics that are relevant to their own lives: Student free speech and due process. 

The two cases are based on real-life cases that were central to the legacy of iCivics’ Founder, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Tinker v. Des Moines and Goss v. Lopez.

Each module includes videos that provide context and primary sources to help students understand their assigned roles as they work through these two cases. 

  • In Supreme Decision: Student Free Speech, students debate the fictional case of Ben Brewer, a high school student who was suspended for violating the school dress code. Students examine the First Amendment right to free speech and apply the precedent of Tinker v. Des Moines to answer the question: Does the U.S. Constitution protect Ben’s right to wear a band T-shirt to school?
  • In Supreme Decision: Due Process, students examine thefictionalcase of Jamie Johnson, a high school student who was suspended after a student protest. By applying the precedent of Goss v. Lopez and the right to due process, students will answer the question: Does the U.S. Constitution protect Jamie’s right to due process before a suspension from school?

These simulations use technology to facilitate, not replace, student interaction and engagement and create a controlled environment to have debates in a manner that allows a full range of opinions to be heard safely.

Don’t Navigate the Challenges of Teaching Alone. Apply to join the Educator Network!

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

While many professional learning communities exist, the iCivics Educator Network is unique. This group of energetic civics, history, government, and social studies teachers serve as champions and ambassadors for high-quality equitable civic education. 

As a member of the Educator Network, you’ll be connected to fellow educators with whom to collaborate and learn from and gain access to the tools and resources you need to effectively engage your students. 

“I love iCivics Educator Network because it creates a place for civics educators to gather and learn from one another… Because of these meetings, I feel empowered to use the materials and resources with authority and experience.”

~ Shari C., AP Government Teacher and iCivics Educator Network member

Join the cohort of Kindergarten to post-secondary educators from every state in the nation and learn from the broad range of experiences, diverse opinions, and valuable perspectives.

Benefits of joining the iCivics Educator Network:

  • Monthly virtual Educator Network meetings where you’ll connect with other members and discuss pedagogy and teaching ideas 
  • Monthly email newsletter packed full of learning opportunities and resources
  • First access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at new iCivics resources, special events, pilots, and other opportunities
  • Collaboration with other teachers as part of a vibrant and supportive community
  • Opportunities to share your teaching experiences with national and local media

Being a member of the Educator Network gives me added insight into best practices and helps me to troubleshoot as my students are engaging with the resources. It also introduced me to so many amazing teachers and gave us time to meet and talk about what we are doing, and why we do it. They inspire me to try new things!

~ Jennifer C., Teacher and iCivics Educator Network member

Today, iCivics lost its leader, but we continue to be guided by Sandra Day O’Connor

Posted on by icivics

by Louise Dubé, Chief Executive Officer, iCivics

In 2014, I met with Sandra Day O’Connor for dinner at a restaurant in Washington, DC, to interview for the position of executive director of her nonprofit iCivics. I barely got a word in between interruptions from other diners who wanted to shake her hand, tell her a story, or take a picture with her. When dessert was served, the Justice was clear in articulating my marching order: “Louise, we need to be in all 50 states.”

I have been working to make her vision a reality ever since.

When we met that day, iCivics was just past its startup phase. Today, up to 145,000 educators and 9 million students use iCivics resources every year. We now provide professional learning to educators to support their practice in all 50 states. And, we are working to advance bipartisan legislation on both the national and state level that supports civic education through CivXNow, a coalition that iCivics founded that includes more than 300 organizations from across the viewpoint spectrum.

Justice O’Connor was a true leader. Beginning in 2006, she was determined to “crack” civics, to reimagine how we teach a “boring” class in new and exciting ways, and to ignite the passion of young people to become involved in our constitutional democracy. Her determination, devotion to high quality, and find common ground continue to animate iCivics’ work. 

She was not just a luminary, but unique in her ability to drive change and follow through on her passions. 

Many important and famous people have started initiatives that have not succeeded. iCivics has grown and flourished because she spent time listening to the customers—educators and students and their families—to find out what they needed. She hired educators to work on curriculum development. She built products that were easy to use, engaging to students, did not require a lot of preparation time, and closely aligned to the state educational standards. That is iCivics’ recipe for success. 

And she did this because she cared not just about this country but about the very people that make up our nation.

Justice O’Connor saw into the future. She lived and worked within institutions her whole life. Yet much of her time was spent outside of these institutions, forging personal friendships and building trust. She knew that the formal was not sufficient. Institutions are nothing without people, without those who bring to bear the very norms, beliefs, rules, and behaviors that make institutions function well. Justice O’Connor understood that our country’s institutions cannot survive without support from “We the People.” 

Civic education is an investment in developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of a citizen so that they can both understand how our system functions and hold it accountable. Justice O’Connor understood that schools are the best way to ensure we reach each and every student in the United States in order to sustain and strengthen our constitutional democracy.

To this day, iCivics’ culture is a reflection of Justice O’Connor’s determination and commitment.

I came to iCivics to honor the legacy of a woman who pioneered the way forward for professional women. As she said, “It was good to be the first, but you did not want to be the last.” 

I feel an obligation to ensure that the contribution of the women from a generation prior to mine is understood, honored, and respected. My mother had an eerily similar story to Justice O’Connor’s. She was the second woman Supreme Court Justice in Canada. Also like Justice O’Connor, my mother could not get hired out of law school and ended up posting an ad in the newspaper. 

But both women persevered and did not let the conventions of their time get in the way of their talent and wisdom. They are superwomen, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.

Shortly before she died, I was deeply honored to speak with Justice O’Connor one last time. I assured her that iCivics was successful and that her vision is now a reality.

We will miss you, Justice O’Connor, but we continue to be animated by your vision.

Thank you for your service.

First Woman on Supreme Court Sandra Day O’Connor Will be Remembered as Country’s Foremost Advocate for Civic Education

Posted on by icivics

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. [December 1, 2023] — As the nation mourns the passing of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, she will be remembered not just for her seminal work with the Court, but as the founder of a movement to revitalize civic education. 

Appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981 by Ronald Reagan, O’Connor was known as a moderate and master of intelligent compromise. When she retired in 2006, O’Connor began work on what she would see as her true legacy—ensuring that millions of young Americans were educated on how our government works and empowered to become informed and engaged participants in our self-governing society.

In 2009, O’Connor founded the nonprofit iCivics with the goal of transforming civic education for every student in the United States. 

iCivics started this work by creating innovative, engaging online games and resources. Since its inception, iCivics’ games have been played more than 189 million times. All iCivics content is completely free and nonpartisan—and is now used by up to 9 million students and 145,000 teachers annually in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

“Justice O’Connor was both a great Justice and a great person. She brought such experience and integrity to everything she did. Her legal and political career was exceptional, at a time when the obstacles for women were formidable; providing a thoughtful ballast and balance to the Court, and continuing to make important contributions to America and its civic institutions after she stepped down,” iCivics Board Chair Larry Kramer said. “iCivics was her brainchild. She spotted the need and importance of reinvigorating civic education before others, and she led the creation of an innovative leader in the field. As important, she was kind and generous, a friend and mentor to countless young people.”

Remembered as a trailblazer for her work on the Court, it was the path Justice O’Connor blazed after she retired from the U.S. Supreme Court—as a pioneer in advancing civic education—that she stated both privately and publicly was what she considered her true legacy. 

“If we want our democracy to thrive, we must commit to educating our youth about civics, and to helping young people understand their crucial role as informed, active citizens in their communities and in our nation,” Justice O’Connor said in her final remarks to the public in 2018, as she withdrew from public life because of her health. “We must arm today’s young people with innovative civic education that is relevant to them. Bringing high-quality civics to every school in every state of our union is the only way that the next generations will become effective citizens and leaders.”

Over the last decade, iCivics has supported its work in the classroom through its leadership of a movement to make civic education a nationwide priority. iCivics founded CivXNow.org, a politically and culturally diverse coalition of more than 300 major organizations, universities, and foundations that are working across political lines to improve civic education. 

In 2021, iCivics along with Harvard, Tufts and Arizona State Universities unveiled the Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy (EAD). The initiative, first funded under the Trump Administration and continued under the Biden Administration, crafted a framework that charts the path toward a vibrant and diverse constitutional democracy through civics and history education. 

“I came to work at iCivics to fulfill Justice O’Connor’s vision for a civic education that prepares students for civic engagement. During my interview for the position, she told me that it was not enough for students to know, they must also do, be engaged and solve problems,” iCivics Chief Executive Officer Louise Dubé said. “The Justice’s career is a testimony to civic service and dedication to the country. My goal remains to fulfill her vision and make her proud. And there are no words for how much she has meant for iCivics, civic education, and how deeply we will miss her.”

For more information about Justice O’Connor’s work with iCivics, visit iCivics.org. To arrange an interview, please contact [email protected].

iCivics Launches Animated Music Video Series with Nickelodeon

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

iCivics is thrilled to announce its partnership with Nickelodeon and ATTN: to bring children ages 2–11 a brand new animated music video series that helps them learn about how to be a part of a stronger democracy.

Well Versed hits all the right notes as it teaches civic concepts to the youngest generation in fun and imaginative ways through original pop songs. The 12-video series explores topics such as the functions of government, how laws are made, and how to be of service to the community. iCivics helped design the series and created viewing guides that support learning in the classroom or at home with short activities and conversation starters.

View the Series

Joining us to unveil the series on National Civics Day were First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden and Former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush. Speaking to a crowd of students in Philadelphia, Dr. Biden shared, “…learn everything you can about the things you love, the things that make you curious, but also take time to learn your rights as a citizen.”

First Lady Bush added via recorded video: “We believe that we need to inspire public trust, promote service, encourage civility, tolerance, and compassion among Americans. But it’s especially important that we teach our children how to be engaged citizens.”

Said Shari Redstone, Chair of Paramount Global, “Our goal is for these videos to be played in classrooms and homes across the nation in order to help address the enormous gaps in civic literacy today.” Check out these stories on NPR and CBS News to learn more.

Civic education, like reading or math, should start young, and these videos and learning materials can make government more relevant, interesting—and fun—for our youngest learners.

In addition to iCivics, the videos are also available across all Nickelodeon Platforms, Paramount+ and Noggin now.

34 Students Take Civic Education into Their Own Hands Through iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship

Posted on by icivics

Now in its fifth year, the fellowship helps students from across the country build civic leadership skills and explore how civic education can become more relevant to all youth in the United States

September 20, 2023—iCivics has selected 34 talented high school students from across the country to take part in the iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship (ECYF). The students were selected after a competitive process that saw nearly 350 applicants from 38 states and Washington, D.C.

The yearlong fellowship helps students develop leadership and communications skills in collaboration with peers and experts in the field of civic education. Throughout the year, students research and explore how civic education can become more equitable for students across the United States, utilizing their own lived experiences to become ambassadors and shed light on how civic education can include student voices from every background.

“I am excited for this year’s fellows to come together, learn from one another, and use their lived experiences to shed some light on the current state of civic education for our young people,” said iCivics Youth Engagement Coordinator Michael Reyes.

The fellowship kicked off in late August, and moves into full-gear with an in-person symposium in Washington D.C. in early fall. It continues through the 2023-2024 school year as fellows engage virtually in group discussions with their peers, workshops and lectures with experts in the field, and projects designed to strengthen listening and collaborative skills. All of the fellows’ work will be centered around ensuring that civic education is available and relevant to all students in the United States. 

Over the past five years, students from across the country representing rural, urban and suburban districts have taken part in the fellowship. They have become an integral part of informing the broader civic education movement, sharing their experiences and thoughts at convenings for the Educating for American Democracy initiative, the Ronald Reagan Institute, Civic Learning Week, and the Commonwealth Club. They have been featured in media such as The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and WBUR in Boston. 

iCivics is proud to announce this year’s Equity in Civics Youth Fellows:

  • Maurits A. – Florida
  • Titus A. – Arizona
  • Liana A. –Maine
  • Addison A. – Louisiana
  • Alexandra B. – Oregon
  • Erica B. – Minnesota
  • Maya B. – California
  • August B. – Delaware
  • Jayla C. – Georgia
  • Rainie C. – Oregon
  • Ace C. – Iowa
  • Shreya D. – Washington
  • Miranda D. – New Jersey
  • Kora D. – Massachusetts
  • HamzaE. – California
  • Pablo G. – California
  • Kaimy I. – North Carolina
  • Daye K. – Georgia
  • Shirin K. – Pennsylvania
  • Wyatt L. – Arizona
  • Mia L. – Illinois
  • Dontrell M. – Georgia
  • Ronald M. – North Carolina
  • Aser M. – Maryland
  • Tithi M. – New Jersey
  • ColtonM. – New Hampshire
  • Folasade O. – Connecticut
  • Cian O. – Massachusetts
  • Saghana P. – Michigan
  • Ellie P. – Virginia
  • Elijah S. – Tennessee
  • Pratheek T. – Virginia
  • AlyssaV. – Ohio
  • Sarah V. – New York

For more information about the iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and how to participate, visit the website.

Dive into Primary Sources & Inquiry-based Learning with Three New DBQuests

Posted on by Luke O'Connor

Are you looking for ways to incorporate primary source analysis into your lessons without spending hours preparing? 

Unlock the power of inquiry-based learning with our three new DBQuests! Each DBQuest asks students a big question which acts as a guiding light for in-depth analysis of three multimedia primary resources. With step-by-step guidance from a virtual writing assistant, students will gather evidence, check sources, analyze what they mean, and write responses to important questions.

Explore Our Three Newest DBQuests

Non-Voting Delegates in Congress

Today there are six non-voting members of Congress representing American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this DBQuest, students will explore the duties and limitations of non-voting members from the perspective of the members themselves.

Policy, Public Interest, and… Margarine?

This DBQuest invites students to take a closer look at how the public can inform and impact public policy over time. Students will review and analyze primary sources from 1900–1949 to discover how legislation can change and the role of public opinion in these changes. It’s a DBQuest with extra butter (or margarine) on top! 

Kids Making a Difference

Hear as kids from three different times in history share, in their own words, how they helped their communities and country tackle the issue of food insecurity in times of war and peace. In this DBQuest, students will use evidence from primary sources to support analysis, answer questions, and describe how young people have made a difference in their communities throughout U.S. history. 

iCivics and George Washington’s Mount Vernon Launch Free Online Game About Civility and Compromise at the Constitutional Convention

Posted on by icivics

MOUNT VERNON, VA – September 7, 2023 – This Constitution Day, iCivics and George Washington’s Mount Vernon will release Constitutional Compromise, a new online game that takes students through the major issues – and key compromises – that shaped our nation’s governing charter, the United States Constitution.

Developed with support from philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin, Constitutional Compromise is the first game that iCivics has created specifically for use within a museum exhibit. The game will be available for free for anyone to use at icivics.org, and it will be available for on-site play to the over one million visitors to Mount Vernon every year. By 2026, the game will move into a new permanent exhibit on George Washington at Mount Vernon.

Designed for middle and high school students, the game places students in Philadelphia in 1787 and challenges students to grapple with the intense debates that occurred between the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including: the scope of national government, representation of power, how population is determined, executive functions, the transatlantic slave trade, and whether the country should have a Bill of Rights.

George Washington, who served as President of the Constitutional Convention, leads players through the debates by requiring them to weigh the arguments they hear and decide how they might have moved forward if they were writing the Constitution. The game then compares their decisions with the compromises that delegates had to make to create a new system of self-government, even though they were difficult and sometimes imperfect (and, on the issue of slavery, morally unacceptable).

It was built by award-winning educational games developer Filament Games. It is free to use and is also available in Spanish and with full support for English Language Learners and has supporting documents for educators to use during Constitution Week and beyond to teach about the Constitution.

More than 100 students from the Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C. will gather on Sept. 18 at Mount Vernon, President Washington’s home, for an event that will be live streamed to thousands of students across the country, starting at 9:30 AM EST. The livestream will be available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7T7ImWrpgs

“Now more than ever it’s critical that Americans have a firm grounding in the important framework that the U.S. Constitution provides for our democracy,” Mount Vernon President & CEO Doug Bradburn said. “Mount Vernon is delighted to have the perfect partner in iCivics as we worked together to create Constitutional Compromise.”