Overview Civiced Org

Leo Migdal

-Dec 14, 2025, 12:40 PM

This site is brought to you by the Center for Civic Education. The Center's mission is to promote 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. 5115 Douglas Fir Road, Suite JCalabasas, CA 91302 I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the...

A free society must rely on the knowledge, skills, and virtue of its citizens and those they elect to public office. Civic education is the primary way our citizens acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for informed and engaged citizenship. While many institutions such as the family, the church and social organizations help forge a person's civic character and propensity to participate, civic education in the schools is the one common experience American citizens... This is the historic civic mission of schools. A mission considered so important by those who established a free universal system of public education in the United States that they termed civic education as one of the central purposes of education. Unfortunately, as the indicators of civic engagement in our nation are dropping, so too is the amount of time and attention devoted to civic education in our schools.

In keeping with its mission of promoting an enlightened, competent and responsible citizenry, the Center for Civic Education has launched a Campaign to Promote Civic Education and a companion project, the Congressional Conferences on... This Campaign has two important objectives. The first is to reaffirm the civic mission of our nation's schools and the second is to encourage states and school districts to devote sustained and systematic attention to civic education from kindergarten through... Although every state acknowledges the need for civic education, this vital part of a student's education is seldom given sustained and systematic attention in the K-12 curriculum. The Nation's Report Card: Civics 2010 revealed that students are making progress in civics at grade 4 but not at grades 8 and 12. Furthermore, these National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results showed that only about three-quarters of our students in the fourth and eighth grades scored at the Basic or above levels of achievement, while less...

For many students, their only explicit exposure to civic education is a one-semester course at the secondary level which is too little and too late. Research reveals that most states and districts give lip service to the importance of civic education; but in reality, state policies and school practices often fail to provide students the civic education they deserve. The Center for Civic Education helps students gain an increased understanding of the institutions of constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded. We help them learn the skills necessary to participate as competent and responsible citizens and develop the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict. To fulfill this mission, the Center develops high-quality instructional materials, provides exceptional professional learning for teachers, and advocates for more vital civic education in the United States and emerging democracies. For more information on the Center, its programs and resources, refer any questions to:

Additionally, Center communications personnel can assist with ... This site is brought to you by the Center for Civic Education. The Center's mission is to promote 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. This site is for educators and lifelong learners.

Click a button below to watch scholars in our open course, participate in our discussion forum, and explore a variety of learning resources. Free, self-paced We the People and Strengthening Democracy in America courses to deepen understanding of the U.S. Constitution and the American political system. Participate in structured courses with esteemed scholars and facilitators to expand your learning and grow professionally. Featuring free ebooks, links to lesson plans, primary sources, and many other great resources for teaching and learning about civics and government. This site is brought to you by the Center for Civic Education.

The Center's mission is to promote 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. The goal of education in civics and government is informed, responsible participation in political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy. Their effective and responsible participation requires the acquisition of a body of knowledge and of intellectual and participatory skills. Effective and responsible participation also is furthered by development of certain dispositions or traits of character that enhance the individual's capacity to participate in the political process and contribute to the healthy functioning of...

Many institutions help to develop Americans' knowledge and skills and shape their civic character and commitments. The family, religious institutions, the media, and community groups exert important influences. Schools, however, bear a special and historic responsibility for the development of civic competence and civic responsibility. Schools fulfill that responsibility through both formal and informal curricula beginning in the earliest grades and continuing through the entire educational process. Formal instruction in civics and government should provide students with a basic understanding of civic life, politics, and government. It should help them understand the workings of their own and other political systems as well as the relationship of American politics and government to world affairs.

Formal instruction provides a basis for understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens in American constitutional democracy and a framework for competent and responsible participation. The formal curriculum should be augmented by related learning experiences, in both school and community, that enable students to learn how to participate in their own governance. In addition to the formal curriculum, the importance of the informal curriculum should be recognized. The informal curriculum refers to the governance of the school community and relationships among those within it. These relationships should embody the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy. Classrooms and schools should be managed by adults who govern in accordance with constitutional values and principles and who display traits of character worth emulating.

Students should be held accountable for behaving in accordance with fair and reasonable standards and for respecting the rights and dignity of others, including their peers. While it is true that history, economics, literature, and other subjects do enhance students' understanding of government and politics, they cannot replace sustained, systematic attention to civic education. Civics should be seen as a central concern from kindergarten through twelfth grade, whether it is taught as a part of other curricula or in separate units or courses. This site is brought to you by the Center for Civic Education. The Center's mission is to promote 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. 5115 Douglas Fir Road, Suite JCalabasas, CA 91302 The Center for Civic Education partners with a network of 51 state civics, government, and law programs to promote teaching and learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. They also administer the Center's flagship programs: We the People and Project Citizen. Sponsored by state bar associations, colleges, universities, and other civic and law non-profits, these programs conduct professional learning, hold conferences, and organize simulated congressional hearings and public policy showcases for elementary and secondary students... Each year, these state programs impact thousands of teachers and tens of thousands of students.

Educating for American Democracy Roadmap Theme 4: A New Government & Constitution With the institution of the Selective Service registration requirement during World War II, the call to lower the voting age was voiced. Fast forward twenty-five years, and once again the slogan “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote” was put forth by student activists during the draft for the Vietnam War, increasing pressure on Congress... Congress controversially lowered the voting age to 18 In April 1970, as it extended legislation for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. States rights advocates believed that it was the power of the states, not the Federal Government, to set the voting age.

President Nixon signed the Act which was to go into effect January 1, 1971. The Supreme Court ruled that the government had indeed overstepped its legislative bounds in lowering the voting age on December 21, 1970. With the 1972 election looming, Congress acted quickly to pass legislation proposing the 26th Amendment. The states ratified the Amendment in 100 days, faster than any other previous Amendment. This course takes you from the philosophical foundations of the U.S. Constitution through the modern interpretation and application of its ideals.

You will find videos of noted scholars explaining key aspects of the Constitution and online exercises to check for understanding. The course follows the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution Level 3 textbook, which has been used throughout the country to further understanding of our government and its fundamental principles. This is a free, self-paced course. It contains six units of instruction with multiple lessons in each unit. You can complete the course at your own pace and in your own time. Strengthening Democracy in America is a collection of free courses featuring video interviews with noted scholars.

These courses will deepen your understanding of the American political system and your rights and responsibilities in it. The first two courses provide a framework for understanding the history and development of the system. Subsequent courses focus on its strengths and weaknesses and means of enhancing the strengths and diminishing the weaknesses. The courses are open to anyone and can be completed at your own pace. This course is entirely self-paced, so you can complete it on your schedule. You can take the entire course or select the sessions that interest you.

The course features scholars recorded during the 2021 Presidential Academy for American History and Civics, sponsored by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This site is brought to you by the Center for Civic Education. The Center's mission is to promote 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.

Overview Civiced Org

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