Civic Education News Roundup: Looking back at Civic Learning Week, and forward to the future.

Yesterday, I posted some reflections from the Civic Learning Week National Forum in my home city of Philadelphia:

Closing panel: Liberty and Learning in a Pluralistic Society, moderated by Danielle (left). The speakers were Ron Daniels (JHU), Akhil Amar (Yale), Robert Runcie (Chiefs for Change), Celina Stewart (LWV), and Victoria Hughes (America250).

But that was just one of many CLW events around the country. And there were plenty of opinion pieces about the importance of civic learning to mark the occasion too.

Advocating for civic education during Civic Learning Week

• Why parents should read articles (like this one) with their teenage children: As our nation celebrates Civic Learning Week, it is important to recognize that news literacy is a key aspect of civic education. | R. Lance Holbert and Huma Rasheed, For The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 12

• Ohio can’t have a healthy democracy without civics: We celebrate civic education and engagement in the Buckeye State and build momentum for stronger K-12 civic education policies as we round the turn to America 250. | by Paul LaRue and Joe Miller for the Columbus Dispatch

• Civic Education in California: A Foundation for a Healthy Democracy. What steps are being taken to ensure students not only understand their Constitutional rights, but are prepared to use them? | by UC’s Alison Yoshimoto-Towery for The74

• We Must Invest in Civics for America’s 250th | By Hans Zeiger for RealClear Education

• If we want a stronger democracy after 250 years, it starts in N.J. classrooms. | By Nicholas A. Chiaravalloti for the New Jersey Star Ledger

• Educators Are the Heroes of America’s 250th | by David Bobb and Louise Dubé

• Why civic education in schools is more important than ever | Opinion By Tani Cantil-Sakauye for The Sacramento Bee, March 9 - in California’s upcoming elections, “We should be asking every one of these candidates ‘If elected, what will you do to make civic education a priority for California’s young people?’”

• Another event from the previous week: Reflections from the We the People: National Symposium on Civic Education Research | by the Civic Education Research Lab and Patrick McSweeney, March 12, 2026

The Philadelphia forum was only the beginning of the semiquincentennial events, and a year of celebrating democracy:

• Drone shows, field trips and a birthday party: Schools prepare to celebrate America’s 250th | by Lexi Lonas Cochran for The Hill

• This Summer, Students From Hundreds of Colleges Will Heed One Urgent Call | in the New York Times, Wesleyan president Michael Roth announces Democracy Summer (a throwback to Freedom Summer), an initiative of more than 400 colleges and universities to promote and protect democracy

Legislation for civics:

• During Civic Learning Week, Senator Andy Kim (D - NJ) Introduces Legislative Package to Better Equip Next Generations through Civics

  • The American Civics Renewal Act establishes a bipartisan, bicameral congressional commission to conduct a comprehensive review of civics education across K–12, higher education, and adult learning.

  • The Every Student is a Citizen Act strengthens and expands federal support for American history and civics education.

  • The American Stories Act expands the authority of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities to support films, radio, video, and other media projects that broaden public understanding of civics and the United States Constitution.

  • A resolution that directs the Senate Rules and Administration Committee to establish an annual, nationwide academic competition for secondary school students.

• Cwodzinski bill would create civic seal for Minnesota students | Eden Prairie Local News: “Under the proposal, students could earn the seal by completing civics coursework, participating in project-based assessments and engaging in civic activities outside the classroom.”

• How to deepen California’s commitment to K-12 civic learning | by Erica Hodgin for EdSource, March 9, building on the state’s State Seal of Civic Engagement

• In Pennsylvania, Advocates push to upgrade civics education standards: As the semiquincentennial commences, legislators, educators and nonprofit organizations are trying to seize the momentum to spotlight the subject. | By Justin Sweitzer and Hilary Danailova for City & State Pennsylvania, about the PA Civics Coalition’s state campaign for updated social studies standards and a State Seal of Civic Literacy, featuring EAD teacher Shannon Salter.

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New opportunities to advance civic learning:

• Assessment of Learning Outcomes in Nonpartisan Voter Engagement Programming: The University of Northern Iowa, Weber State University, and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition are leading a research project to assess student learning outcomes in nonpartisan voter engagement programming. They are currently looking for campus vote coordinators who are willing to incorporate four learning assessments into their nonpartisan student voter engagement programming this fall. Campus coordinators who participate will receive $500 upon completion of the requirements of the study. To register your interest in participating, please fill out this short form. To learn more about the project or to ask questions, please email Clarissa Unger at clarissa@slsvcoalition.org.

• Public Comment Sought for NAEP Civics Assessment Framework: To prepare for a potential update of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Civics Assessment Framework, the Board is seeking public comment through March 27.

• The Institute for Citizens & Scholars (C&S) Unveils Bold Three-Year Plan to Spark 20 Million Young Civic Problem-Solvers by 2029

  • Over the next three years, C&S will continue strengthening its work on college campuses, in communities, and in workplaces to help young people build and demonstrate three essential civic skills:

    • Having Productive Conversations — Anchored in curiosity, respect, and active listening.

    • Using Credible Information — Distinguishing and applying reliable sources of information.

    • Collaborating to Create Solutions — Working together to define, explore, and address shared challenges.

  • On college campuses, C&S will partner with hundreds of college presidents and school leaders to build strong civic cultures where every student can practice essential civic skills. In communities, C&S will fund and coach thousands of young leaders in all 50 states, giving them the tools and pathways to create fresh civic solutions. In workplaces, C&S will pilot partnerships with 25 private sector companies to strengthen civic understanding and engagement at work; helping build more inclusive, collaborative workplaces that benefit both business and the country.

  • Looking ahead, C&S is creating and launching a new national participation platform in summer 2026—an open invitation for mission-aligned partners to join us in building and growing this effort together. Designed to make civic participation more accessible, meaningful, and achievable, the platform aims to engage 15 million young people by 2029.

New civic learning resources:

• Bill of Rights Institute Launches Civics Innovation Lab:

  • The Civics Innovation Lab will develop, test, and deploy new instructional strategies, interactive and participatory design processes, and advanced technologies, such as AI-enhanced tools, to increase teacher support, improve student achievement, and equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills to practice civics in their daily lives. The first set of tools will be released in time for America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.
    The Institute will host events that bring together civic leaders, educators, technologists, and investors to build a community of civic practice around the Lab. The first events are at SXSW EDU in Austin, TX and at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, WA, on April 30.

• Smithsonian Launches Regional Collaboratives, a National Initiative To Strengthen Community Partnerships Across the Country: “By connecting museums, K–12 and higher education systems, educators, libraries, tribal nations, community organizations and local leaders, the initiative strengthens existing networks while creating new pathways for collaboration and opportunity.”

• For Civic Learning Week, Vermont Secretary of State highlights new comic-art State House guides for kids and New Hampshire’s Secretary of State David Scanlan and Civic and Voter Education Coordinator Lily Woo are pleased to usher in Civic Learning Week (March 9–13) with a new “Civic and Voter Education” section on the Secretary of State’s website.

New publications:

• “Inquiry-based and culturally responsive learning opportunities in social studies: A panel study of their relationships to civic development.” Benjamin Bowyer & Joseph Kahne for Theory & Research in Social Education. Published online: 27 Feb 2026

• Building Political Homes for Youth: Five key elements for organizations that want to support young people’s democratic belonging and civic engagement. | Report & Toolkit by Sara Suzuki, Seona Maskara, Ruby Belle Booth, and Alberto Medina for CIRCLE, February 26, 2026

• Testing Democracy: How Large-Scale Assessment Systems Can Support Civic Learning | By Laura Hamilton & Chris Brandt, National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment, March 2026

• America’s 250th anniversary edition of Believe in People: Bottom-Up Solutions for a Top-Down World by Charles Koch and Brian Hooks of Stand Together, invoking the Declaration of Independence and America’s founding ideals to unite the country and solve our shared problems.

• Forthcoming in May: Teaching America: Reflective Patriotism in Schools, College, and Culture by Paul Carrese for Cambridge University Press.

Upcoming Events:

1. Teaching Elementary Students to Have Effective Discussions | Civic Learning Institute Workshop, Thursday, March 19, 7:30-9pm

2. Meaningful Civic Assessment: Bring Data Together to Tell Our Stories | Voter Friendly Campus webinar, March 23, 1:00 PM - 02:00 PM ET

3. Civics Beyond Borders: Fostering Civic Skills for Democracy in a Global Age | online forum from Retro Report and CFR Education for secondary and postsecondary educators, Wednesday, March 25, 3:00-4:00 P.M. (EDT)

4. Teach the Declaration’s Global Impact Using Media and Artifacts | PBS LearningMedia and the Museum of the American Revolution webinar, March 25 from 7-8 p.m.

5. Strategies for Building a Community of Care & Belonging | Facing History and Ourselves, March 26, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm EDT

6. Forecast Public Art 2026 Series: Creative Power, Civic Purpose: How Artists Strengthen Democracy. The second webinar in this series, Knowledge Is Power: Demystifying Civic Systems Through Creative Practice, is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 · 12–1:30 PM CT: How artists restore civic understanding, expand public access to complex systems like budgeting and voting, and increase community engagement in democratic processes.

7. Engage Students Through Simulation: A Practical Guide with CFR Education | Council on Foreign Relations, Monday, March 30, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (EDT)

8. The Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy: Making K-12 History and Civic Learning Meaningful | Civic Learning Institute course, April 7-May 5

9. Civics in Higher Education: A National Summit hosted by The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University and the Alliance for Civics in the Academy (ACA) on Friday, April 10, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tufts University’s Medford/Somerville campus.

10. The Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement (CLDE) Coalition will host a virtual forum on April 13, 2026, 3:30-5:15 PM Eastern to celebrate the release of For ALL College Students: The CLDE Guide for Generative Curriculum Planning.

11. What It Means to Be an American — and What It Requires of Us at This Moment | ASU+GSV Summit 2026 (San Diego) panel featuring Eboo Patel (Interfaith America), Ellen Dollarhide McCoy (Ronald Reagan Institute), Eric Liu (Citizen University), and Louise Dubé (iCivics), Monday, April 13, 2026, 2:10 pm-2:45 pm

12. Deepening Civic Learning through Community Connections | Civic Learning Institute Workshop, Wednesday, April 15, 7:30-9pm

13. 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

14. Joint National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) National Service-Learning Conference and Points of Light Social Impact Conference, June 22-25, 2026 Washington, D.C.