Democracy depends on civic education.
The Center for Civic Education renews democracy with each generation, through a time-tested civic education system grounded in our national network of scholars, educators, and supporters.
A citizenry that understands, values, and practices democracy is essential to our liberty, and we can’t take that preparation for granted.
With collaboration and continuous innovation, we prepare engaged citizens, sustain democracy, and transform lives.
“I know that as a result of this program I will strive to be a better citizen, friend, follower, and leader.”
—Former We the People student
Our Flagship Programs
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
We the People is a comprehensive constitutional curriculum implemented nationwide, culminating in the largest civics competition in the U.S. Through We the People, students apply and extend their knowledge of the Constitution in simulated congressional hearings, taking and defending positions on historical and current issues.
Project Citizen
Project Citizen is a hands-on experience in understanding and shaping public policy. Through this standard-setting program—the longest running and most widely adopted of its kind—students identify a local issue of concern, conduct research, explore solutions, and take steps to put their plan into action.
“The most effective civic curricular programs I have ever worked with are the Center for Civic Education curricula. They are second to none.”
— Anonymous teacher
Latest updates
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Thursday, July 9: Teaching 250 Webinar
Join the Center on Thursday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Eastern for our free Teaching250 webinar.
Teaching 250 is part of a national effort to support teachers in preparing students for informed, thoughtful participation in our constitutional democracy.
In this webinar, participants will hear from educators behind the inquiry-based lessons and explore how to use the lessons in K-12 classrooms.
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"The future of democracy starts in the classroom."
Young people don’t become doctors or musicians without practicing their craft — and we shouldn’t expect them to become citizens without practice either.
In a recent editorial, Center Vice President and Chief Program Officer Aruna Patel and North Dakota social studies teacher Jennifer Kallenbach use that example and more to lay out the case for learning and practicing civic engagement.
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Center receives $1 million from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation
The prestigious Andrew Carnegie Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to the Center to grow our flagship We the People program.
The Foundation’s support shows they understand the effectiveness of our work to prepare new generations for the responsibilities of citizenship and self-government.