Civic Education News Roundup: Civic humanities, the politics of civic learning, and a new AAA&S report.
The Council on Foreign Relations has posted their annual Presidents’ Day Quiz if you feel like testing your knowledge on what I hope is a nice day off! And then gear up for about 20 great events happening in the next few days…
Check out this great new report and practical guide from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences:
Preparing Students for Civic Life: A Guide for Higher Education Leaders
The publication was developed by a working group of university presidents, faculty, and civic experts, led by David E. Campbell (University of Notre Dame) and Ben Vinson III (Case Western Reserve University; Harvard University; National Humanities Center). The publication outlines eight institution-wide strategies to embed democratic learning across curricula, culture, and community. The publication complements the strategies with six case studies of institutions already putting these approaches into practice.
And this is a great read for anyone who works with young people in this moment:
From the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, Community Work in Times of Crisis: Reflections from Carnegie Young Leaders on what they’re seeing in their work, February 5, 2026.
In Semiquincentennial news:
From the Federation of State Humanities Councils: 51 Humanities Councils Join National Initiative to Explore the 250th through Community-Driven Cultural Programs
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by 51 humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future. Programs and events from each state, territory, and DC will be added to the Federation’s By the People homepage as they are announced.
A webinar recording from Stories Change Power and Cristin Brawner of the National Issues Forum Institute: America’s Next 250: A Toolkit To Be Part of What’s Next. America’s Next 250 is a nationwide initiative designed to help Americans turn conversation into action where they live, work, and learn, with resources including deliberative discussion guides and talk-to-action trainings to use in your community.
The Free Society Coalition has put together a pamphlet to guide discussion and debate about the Declaration of Independence and the semiquincentennial: Happy Birthday, Freedom!
Monticello’s Declaration Book Club is going strong with groups in all 50 states!
Students, tech, and democracy
The New York Times Learning Network and the Pulitzer Center are hosting a live webinar for middle and high school students, How A.I. Is Reshaping Our World, March 4 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Submit questions from students by February 18.
Helping My Community Learn Why Local Elections Matter | By Manuela Bulgaro, President of the Criminal Justice Club and Voter Engagement Ambassador at Raritan Valley Community College, for Forbes.
TikTok And Democracy: The Importance Of Fact-Checking Information | By Haylee Seiwell and Civic Nation for Forbes.
VR’ing Democracy: High School Innovators Use Virtual Reality to Empower First-Time Voters | by Civics Unplugged for The Fulcrum.
Civic humanities
Public Humanities Aren’t Extra. They’re How We Practice Democracy. | By Bowie State University student Kevin Lopez Cruz for The Sentinel of Maryland, February 5, 2026.
Can Literature Help Save Democracy? A recent book argues that reading fiction and non-fiction can promote relational, cognitive, and emotional qualities that would improve democratic dialogue. | By Ravi Chandra for Greater Good Magazine January 23, 2026 - with shout-outs to Danielle’s work.
Learning to Govern Ourselves | Interview: Ben and Jenna Storey on The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg (podcast), February 2, 2026.
The politics of civic education
From Facing History and Ourselves: Reflecting on Democracy through a New Lesson and Film: The Officials. This new elections documentary and related curriculum can help students explore how civil servants maintain fair voting processes and civic trust.
Civic Education for Civic Capacities | By Andrew J. Perrin for the American Enterprise Institute’s The Future of the American University, February 10, 2026, calling for “a disagreement-centered curriculum that teaches and models good argument across disciplinary and content areas”
Civil Society Is Withering. How to Help Schools Restore Engagement | From EducationWeek, a conversation between Rick Hess, the director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and Ashley Berner, the director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy, about the relationship between civil society and schools as parts of civic infrastructure.
The K–12 Social Curriculum as Common Ground—or Proxy Battlefield? Beyond Zero-Sum Politics in Public Education | Steven Mintz , January 29, 2026
“One logic treats curriculum as zero-sum territory: my history displaces yours; recognition is scarce; standards become symbolic victories in cultural warfare. Civic pluralism operates differently. It begins from the premise that we inherit a world shaped by many civilizations and traditions, and that education should enlarge students’ historical horizons rather than narrow them. The purpose of the curriculum is not to adjudicate whose narrative wins, but to cultivate the analytic capacities needed for democratic citizenship.”
Michigan social studies teacher Keith Kindred reflects “on teaching civics when the presidency stops looking civic” on Michigan Public.
New Hampshire educator Tyler Paré writes for the New Hampshire Bulletin, drawing on his grandfather’s stint with the Civilian Conservation Corps: Social media broke political discourse. Civil service could repair it.
The University of Utah’s Hollis Robbins asks of “Civics Centers as Ivory Towers”: “Is the point of these centers to reform universities or to educate citizens for the practice of self-government?” And what place should they have, if any, commenting on current events and public questions?
James Traub’s recent book, The Cradle of Citizenship: How Schools Can Help Save Our Democracy, has generated a range of responses:
Can American Children Point to America on a Map? In “The Cradle of Citizenship,” the journalist James Traub finds that the biggest crisis in education is not what kids are learning, but whether they’re learning anything at all. | by Mark Lilla for the New York Times Book Review.
James Traub Misreads the Classroom | by Stanley Kurtz for The National Review, February 2, 2026 in response to Traub’s book and continuing earlier conservative critiques of Educating for American Democracy.
Civil dialogue in the news
What George Washington Can Teach Us About Grace in the Wake of Violence: After the death of Charlie Kirk, a Utah Valley University scholar takes solace in the Founding Father’s model of civil discourse and offers it as a way forward for educators and students. | By Matthew Brogdon for EdSurge, 11, 2026.
Shaping Delaware’s future leaders through civic dialogue: High school students tackle political challenges and practice civil discourse at second annual Delaware Dialogues for Future Leaders on the topic of regulating toxic speech online | by Jackie Diehl for UDaily, February 6, 2026.
App State’s Civic Literacy Initiative empowers students for active citizenship and dialogue across differences in partnership with the Constructive Dialogue Institute | By J. Todd Coates and Tracy Tilley for Appalachian Today, Jan. 30, 2026.
Unite awarded $3.9M grant to launch civic institute at HBCUs: LaFayette nonprofit Unite won a $3.9M federal grant to launch a national HBCU Civil Discourse & Freedom Institute, expanding civic education and training across campuses. | by Hannah Barron for The Valley Times-News.
New publications:
Leadership Learning for Systems Thinking and Practice. New Directions for Student Leadership: Volume 2025, Issue 188. (partially open access)
The challenge of misinformation in the civics classroom | By Diana Owen in the Journal of Applied Communication Research, discussing tools from the Civic Education Research Lab.
ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Student Voting Handbook - 2026 edition: Through Students Vote 2026, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge provides institutions of higher education and their students with guidance and resources to promote nonpartisan voter registration and voting in 2026 elections.
Coming of Age in Polarized Times: Teaching Civil Discourse in a Digital Era from the Or Initiative, using student and educator interviews about the conflict in Gaza since October 7 to learn about how students perceive the social media environments where they get information.
Upcoming Events:
In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union featuring: David W. Blight, Lonnie G. Bunch III, Drew Gilpin Faust, Karin Wulf, Colleen Shogan (moderator) | panel presented by More Perfect at The New York Historical and livestreaming, February 16, 6:30 – 7:30 pm ET
Defining Democracy: A 1619 Project PD workshop series helping educators to acknowledge Black Americans’ contributions to American history, and understand the lasting legacies of slavery in our democracy today. February 16, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
The Alliance for Civics in the Academy hosts “What Counts as Success? Assessing the Impact of Civics in Higher Ed” with Trygve Throntveit, Rachel Wahl, Joseph Kahne, and Peter Levine on February 18, 2026, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. PT.
ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Spring Virtual Townhall on Wednesday, February 18 at 1 PM ET
Inside the Civic Classroom: Lessons from Award-Winning Civic Educators | An American Civic Education Teacher Awards Webinar from the Center for Civic Education, February 18, 7:00-8:30 pm EST
Askwith Education Forum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education: An Evening with Michael Sandel discussing The Tyranny of Merit and Democracy’s Discontent, Wednesday, February 18, 5–6:30 p.m. ET in person or virtual
The Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and the Humanities at Bard College’s Philip Lindsay is hosting a free monthly drop-in webinar series on the topic of citizens’ assemblies, beginning on February 18. You can also check out their Democracy Innovation video series here.
Civic Learning Through Projects: Getting Started | Civic Learning Institute Workshop, Tuesday, February 24, 7:30-9pm
Panel on the new book Youth Voting Rights: Civil Rights, the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, and the Fight for American Democracy on College Campuses Edited by: Jonathan Becker and Yael Bromberg, hosted by Civic Nation, February 25, 2:00 PM Eastern
National History Day is introducing a new webinar series for teachers, Revolutionary Ideals: Understanding 250 Years of American Principles. This series, developed in partnership with the American Historical Association, will run from April 2026 to March 2027. Participants can earn 90 professional development hours or college credit at no cost and will work in cohorts. Apply by February 27.
Stories of Civil Disobedience | An American Civic Education Teacher Awards Webinar from the Center for Civic Education in Partnership with Colonial Williamsburg, March 3, 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
How Can Universities Strengthen Civic Education in K–12 Schools? From the Alliance For Civics in the Academy webinar series, featuring Jennifer McNabb, Joshua Dunn, Meira Levinson, and Jenna Storey on March 4, 2026, 1pm Eastern
Teaching Through Dialogue: Perspectives on Curiosity, Connection, and Critical Thinking | Constructive Dialogue Institute, Mar 4, 2026 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Action Planning Virtual Workshop, Wednesday, March 11 at 2 PM ET
Teaching Elementary Students to Have Effective Discussions | Civic Learning Institute Workshop, Thursday, March 19, 7:30-9pm
The Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy: Making K-12 History and Civic Learning Meaningful | Civic Learning Institute course, April 7-May 5
Some big in-person convenings coming up:
We the People: National Symposium on Civic Education Research hosted by The Center for Civic Education and the Civic Education Research Lab (CERL), Washington, D.C., March 6–7, 2026
America250: National Convention for Christian Education: A national convention on cultivating Christian, civic virtue in our students, March 8-10, Philadelphia
Civic Learning Week National Forum Liberty and Learning: Civic Education at 250, hosted by iCivics and the Democratic Knowledge Project in Philadelphia, March 9-10, 2026 (registration is free)
The Fund for American Studies’ 2026 Annual Conference, Developing Courageous Citizens: Revitalizing Civic Education and America’s Founding Principles, March 11-12 in Washington, D.C.
Campus Compact 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago, March 16-18, 2026 - the American Association of State Colleges And Universities (AASCU) has scheduled their American Democracy Project conference for March 15-16 on the same site, so you can attend the two conferences back to back (at a discount)
Jack Miller Center 4th National Summit on Civic Education: Join organizations and philanthropists committed to reinvigorating American civic education with our nation’s founding principles. Pennsylvania, May 18-19, 2026
Thank you for including my Civics Center critique -- I feel like a lone voice advocating for privacy as well as relevance. https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-noxiousness-of-civic-discourse-platforms
Great information here! Thank you!