Category: Insights

The moment we’ve been building toward is finally here: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But the 250th also represents a call to action for our own times, ensuring that each member of our society has the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to sustain and strengthen this audacious experiment in self-government set in motion more than two centuries ago. It’s fair to say that state legislatures answered the call this spring, with 40 states considering 245 bills concerning K–12 civic education.

Each spring session, we assess emerging state legislation to determine whether it aligns with the CivxNow State Policy Menu and advances civic learning. Of the 245 bills filed, two-thirds of them (160) aligned. Categorically, the bills concerning civics curriculum were most prolific (42 in total), followed by course-time requirements (38), instruction in information literacy (36), and appropriations for civics (30). And as we noted last month, there were 22 bills to establish state civic diploma seals programs.

While the collective fate of this body of legislation is still in progress, we are able to celebrate significant state wins across the national landscape:

• Alaska and Mississippi established high school civics courses and instructional requirements, respectively. Alaska’s law also tacks on a civics assessment, including a project-based option.
• New York’s budget includes a $2.6M investment in civic learning and information literacy.
• Utah will require a middle school digital literacy course and also ensure that educators have the instructional materials and professional development necessary to integrate digital literacy throughout students’ K–12 trajectory.
• Student civic seals programs were adopted in the following six states: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, and New Hampshire.

The civic seals momentum is particularly notable, as these states join the existing 13, equaling 19 states with established programs. Seals legislation also progressed this spring in Minnesota and Missouri, and remains active in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Seven other states also have civic seals pilot programs and/or are contemplating seals legislation next spring: Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.

It’s fitting that states celebrate student excellence in civic education on the eve of the 250th, and it is our hope that universal state adoption occurs by 2030. 

• Civic seals operationalize state graduate portraits that emphasize discussion across difference, community engagement, and information literacy;
• They encourage local education agencies to thread civic learning opportunities throughout students’ K–12 experience; and 
• Seals legitimize students’ civic readiness as they matriculate in college, pursue careers, and participate in the civic life of their communities.

In sum, the civic learning field has much to celebrate this weekend on this seminal anniversary for our country. However, the 250th is but the first mile in a marathon that extends through similar milestones for the U.S. Constitution (2038) and Bill of Rights (2041). After the fireworks  fade, let’s carry forth this spirit of 2026 into the next legislative biennium and beyond.

Twenty years ago, as resident scholar at the McCormick Foundation’s Freedom Museum, I guarded a Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence on opening night, ensuring its safety from guests’ refreshments. Only 21 known Dunlap copies exist of what was the first public pronouncement of American independence, and this was my first encounter with the Declaration’s sacred lineage. The broader 250-year journey of the original document and its many reproductions and debates over its meaning are the subject of author Michael Auslin’s timely new book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America.

Auslin begins with the series of events that led to the Continental Congress assembling in Philadelphia and delegating the task of authoring the Declaration to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, among others. Adams was arguably the strongest political force for independence, but he acknowledged that Jefferson was both a better writer and situated strategically in Virginia. 

The vote for independence actually occurred on July 2, but the final wording of the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted two days later on July 4. Jefferson was undeniably the lead writer, but 25% of his original draft was scrapped, and it reiterated arguments already well-established in the Revolutionary era. Moreover, the infamous signing of the engrossed document did not occur until later in the summer (and beyond, with the final signature not coming until January 1977).

Attention to the Declaration receded as the Revolutionary War ended and the new Republic struggled to govern an increasingly continental nation. This shifted when the United States defeated the British for a second time in the War of 1812. During Great Britain’s burning of Washington, D.C., a well-established myth has First Lady Dolly Madison saving the Declaration on her way out of the soon-to-be renamed White House. While Madison did save a portrait of George Washington, it was State Department employee Stephen Pleasonton who outran the British with the Declaration on his wagon heading out of town, preserving America’s founding document for posterity.

The Civil War was of course the ultimate test of the still fledgling nation. In fact, Jefferson’s condemnation of the slave trade in his first draft of the Declaration was among the passages removed by the larger congressional committee. President Lincoln trumpeted the lofty ideals of the Declaration in his quest to preserve the Union and ultimately end slavery.

A theme throughout Auslin’s tome is how marginalized groups invoked the words of the Declaration to challenge the country to live up to the true meaning of its founding creed. This includes abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, the women’s rights advocates of Seneca Falls, and civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. The author acknowledges that this struggle is perennial and in part what makes America exceptional. 

Since the War of 1812, Americans have yearned to see the Declaration with their own eyes and hold its reproductions in their hands. Modern science continues to make this possible as school groups and tourists line up at the National Archives to see the nation’s sacred texts, the Constitution and Bill of Rights included, and later purchase facsimiles from the gift shop as personal keepsakes.

Auslin’s careful documentation of the Declaration’s provenance is an important contribution to existing scholarship during this seminal year. We are currently writing the next chapter during its semiquincentennial and are compelled to carry the lofty ideals of our birthright forth for generations to come.

As we quickly approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, it’s crucial to acknowledge the role that states have, and will continue to play, in uplifting civic learning and engagement within their communities. 

Each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia has its own commission to commemorate the nation’s semiquincentennial. In partnership with Paul LaRue, President of the Ohio State Board of Education and Co-Chair for the America 250 Ohio K–12 Education Committee, the CivxNow team facilitates a monthly State Commission K–12 Working Group, with representation from 47 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Commission attendees share their own initiatives, hear from guest speakers, and learn from other state commissions how to adapt and uplift youth civic education and engagement in their own communities. 

Commissions are using this opportunity to regain momentum for civics, with just a few of the great efforts happening across the country highlighted below:

• The Journey Across Arkansas framework takes students on expeditions through state standard-aligned monthly themes, classroom resources, student showcase opportunities, and civic engagement and service pathways. Arkansas Celebrates America 250 will create professional learning opportunities to discuss how these resources can still be used beyond the nation’s 250th anniversary year.

• Alongside the nation’s 250th anniversary is Colorado’s 150th anniversary. This joint commemoration will feature “Becoming Colorado,” a five-part educational documentary for Colorado classrooms that meets state academic standards and allows students to connect through their state’s past.

• Through its Civics Moonshot programming, the Maryland 250 Commission committed to civic engagement by hosting several initiatives: the Mock Second Continental Congress/Constitutional Convention, Civics Book Club, Statewide Essay Contest, and Civic Challenge.

• The New York State 250th Commemoration Commission amplified Civic Learning Week throughout its local communities, receiving a Civic Learning Week 2026 proclamation in Erie County, NY.

• America 250-Ohio has encouraged grassroots school-based activities. The Wayne County Schools Career Center in northern Ohio and Garfield Middle School in southern Ohio each organized day-long programs for their school communities that included the planting of a Liberty Tree by the Future Farmers of America Chapter and a student reading of the Declaration of Independence.
  
  
• The Expressions of Freedom student competition, a partnership between the Virginia Department of Education and VA250, engages students through the study of civics, history, and democracy in an effort to promote the principles of engaged and informed citizens through their own ideas and perspectives.

For this State 250 K–12 Working Group, the nation’s 250th serves as a starting point rather than a finish line. In New Mexico, educational programming for America 250 doesn’t even begin until after July 4, 2026, with the beginning of the next school year. As we enter into Civic Season through the 250th anniversary date and into back to school season, consider how your own state and communities are contributing to this civic momentum. 

Teachers are our most authentic, effective advocates for stronger K–12 civic learning across the country. Whether in the classroom or in second careers as policymakers or in other places across the civics landscape, we celebrate educators who prioritize students’ civic development on the eve of Teacher Appreciation Month in May.

From 2021–2025, 33 states adopted at least 50 pro-civics policies, and this forward momentum continues this spring with 40 states considering 232 policies concerning K–12 civic education. We’ll provide a complete recap of the spring session in a subsequent newsletter, but this month we want to highlight the current and former teachers now championing civic learning as elected officials across states.

•  Indiana State Representative Tony Cook (R)—former social studies teacher, football coach, and principal—sponsored 2021 legislation to create a state civic education commission and require a standalone middle school civics course.
• Minnesota State Senator Steve Cwodzinski (D)—a high school civics and history teacher for three decades—championed 2023 legislation that established  a standalone high school civics course requirement in Minnesota and is the lead author of legislation to establish a civic seals program.
• Utah State Representative Douglas Welton (R)—a current history and world languages teacher and debate coach—advocated for a law to extend the state’s one-semester high school civics course to a full year starting with the 2026–2027 school year, allowing for a greater focus on state and local government, including study of the state constitution.
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) trained to be a social studies teacher and has been an ally of the field during his two terms as chief executive. In 2019, Gov. DeWine signed legislation that established a civic seals program in the state and, last year, he successfully requested appropriations for an elementary-level literacy curriculum that infuses social studies content.
• Hawaii State Representative Amy Perruso (D)—a social studies educator for nearly 20 years—serves as vice chair of the Commission to Promote and Advance Civic Education (PACE), and is the current sponsor of legislation to establish a civics trust fund, drawing upon public and private funding, to support civics programming in middle schools.
• Connecticut State Representative Kevin Brown (D) is still in the classroom teaching civics (18+ years) and on the field coaching youth sports. He carried legislation the past two sessions to establish a civic seals program. This spring, it passed as part of a broader education package, and was signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont last month.

Teachers need not pursue elected office to “do civics for civics.” Over the past couple of years, the CivxNow coalition’s Teachers Advancing Civic Learning (TACL) has empowered teachers to advocate for stronger state and federal civic education policies. Now more than 620 members strong and representing 49 states, TACL members participate in quarterly trainings, receive monthly activation opportunities and policy updates, and engage in targeted state and federal policy campaigns.

Teachers also joined an educator-focused Hill Day last year held in partnership with the National Council of the Social Studies (NCSS) at the start of their annual conference. More than 40 participants representing 24 states visited more than 50 congressional offices, meeting with House and Senate members and staff from both sides of the aisle. We are currently planning a second Hill Day, bringing together educators, partners, and coalition members to advocate for civics and history education, on July 15, 2026, to coincide with NCSS’ Summer Leadership Institute. 

Teaching civics during this time of deep political polarization is a heroic act, and we are grateful for our educator allies. We salute all educators during Teacher Appreciation Month and throughout the year, and we invite your participation in our coming collective impact activities on Capitol Hill and across states.

In the afterglow of our fourth annual national Civic Learning Week (CLW), we’re in awe and appreciative of the scope and span of the CivxNow coalition’s collective work to strengthen K–12 civic education. This year’s events, proclamations, op-eds and earned media, and other forms of advocacy shined the spotlight on civics as we count down the final weeks until the Semiquincentennial.

The CLW Nahttps://vision.icivics.org/civic-learning-week-2026-believe-in-bottom-up-civic-renewal/tional Forum has become the civic learning field’s seminal annual event, as evidenced by this year’s over-capacity two-day summit. It was particularly special to host the Forum in Philadelphia in this anniversary year and to have robust participation from our most important stakeholders—students and teachers. The iCivics policy team treasured the opportunity to see so many of you in three dimensions outside of our normal Zoom boxes.

After the Forum, we followed our Founders’ lead in crossing the Delaware River, where we attended CivicsNJ’s second annual convening. Civic learning and engagement is clearly unifying the Garden State. North, Central, and South Jersey were all well represented, and attendees were treated to an inspiring address by Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, who has emerged as a clear civics champion.

My Civic Learning Week travels then took me to The Fund for American Studies’ (TFAS) Developing Courageous Citizens conference in Washington, D.C. Across these three convenings, I was struck by the shared values, not to mention common attendees and speakers. The quest to develop a sense of reflective patriotism across generations presents an opportunity for unity in these polarized times, embracing the lofty ideals of our founding.

Meanwhile, iCivics State Policy Lead Andrea Benites was covering the western United States, where the University of New Mexico hosted a convening on developing a civic diploma seals program in the coming year.

Appropriately, Connecticut became the 13th state to offer civic seals earlier this month as Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation. Similar legislation awaits Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature in Iowa. As of this writing, civic seals bills passed one legislative chamber in Idaho, Maryland, and New Hampshire, and out of committee in Minnesota.

Throughout the week, CivxNow members celebrated civic learning across the country—in K–12 classrooms, museums and historic sites, government buildings, colleges and universities, presidential libraries, online, and elsewhere. Partners across different sectors spread the word on the importance of student civic learning throughout their own networks, states, and local communities. Overall, CLW was celebrated by more than 200 organizational partners, with activities registered in all 50 states + DC, and 25 official state and local proclamations issued at last count.

We are living in split-screen times, where there’s simultaneously deep concern about our civic health and celebration of this long-standing experiment in self-governance. This profoundly civic moment presents generational opportunities to carry forth the momentum of CLW throughout this anniversary year and ensure investments in the civic inheritance of our posterity for the next 250 years and beyond.

Civic Learning Week (March 9–13) is a weeklong national celebration that highlights the importance of civic education in sustaining and strengthening our constitutional democracy, bringing together students, educators, policymakers, and civic leaders across sectors. During the nation’s semiquincentennial, this movement serves as a catalyst for uplifting youth and preparing our communities for the next 250 years and beyond. Here are three things you can do to celebrate Civic Learning Week:

1. Plan Your Own Initiative for Civic Learning Week

   Use Civic Learning Week as a way to engage your own networks, communities, and classrooms in conversations about civic education, empowering youth, and community engagement. This is an opportunity to further amplify the work you are already doing toward strengthening civic education, constitutional democracy, and youth.

   If you are an educator or school leader, use an official Civic Learning Week resource to engage your students in an activity or lesson during March 9–13. Upload your school-based activity to show others how your classroom celebrated Civic Learning Week and uplifted civic education.

   Plan your own public event, activity, or initiative and submit it on the website to become an official Civic Learning Week partner. Collaborate with other civic leaders, organizations, and community members to plan this event and broaden your audience.

   Spread the word about Civic Learning Week and civic education! Highlight the work you are already engaging in to strengthen civic learning and constitutional democracy. Use this social media toolkit for sample language, graphic assets, and more.

2. Join an Event

   Throughout Civic Learning Week, there are many in-person and online events, activations, and initiatives hosted by CivxNow members and other leaders across the nation. Look through the Civic Learning Week calendar to learn about these events, or check out the map to see what’s happening in your state or community. Use this as an opportunity to spread the word and encourage your colleagues, network, or communities to join Civic Learning Week events or activities.

3. Register for the National Forum Livestream

   The Civic Learning Week National Forum serves as an anchor for Civic Learning Week. In anticipation of the nation’s semiquincentennial, this year’s theme is Liberty and Learning: Civic Education at 250.

   While we have reached capacity for the in-person event in Philadelphia, we invite you to join us virtually via the National Forum livestream. Tune in March 9 and 10 to explore how educators, policymakers, researchers, academics, and private- and public-sector leaders are energizing the movement to advance high-quality civic education nationwide.

How does one summarize five years of transformative professional experiences in a few paragraphs? You don’t—but I’ll try. After five years of coordinating the CivxNow coalition, I decided to leave my role as Director of Coalition Engagement at iCivics to pursue a new professional chapter of public service. I leave this work with deep faith, gratitude, and hope in all of you, and I look forward to cheering your efforts from the sidelines.

During my time here, I’ve told everybody I’ve spoken to, “You may have a good job, but I have a better job—the best job, in all of education.” I’ve meant it. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the most deeply mission-oriented individuals and organizations in the country, facilitating a truly pluralistic collective with individuals and organizations working toward essential missions.

My experiences included the launch of the Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy, the inaugural and subsequent powerful Civic Learning Weeks, progress in integrating civics into the AI and education landscape, and witnessing the coalition grow from 170 to well over 400 organizations. 

I’m proud of these accomplishments, but what I’ve found most fulfilling are the friendships and relationships that I’ve formed. That’s what I’ll take with me. There are talented people in this field who could be making more money and working less, but they choose to invest themselves in something greater: the health of the world’s oldest modern democracy. I can’t think of a more important vocation. If public office is a sacred trust, so is civic learning. 

Great public servants work as hard for people who disagree with them as they do for those who agree; great civic learning organizations do the same. We are in the business of planting seeds for something bigger and better than any single issue of the day; we’re in the business of planting seeds for a stronger, more vibrant, and inclusive democracy. 

At its best, that’s what public service does, and that’s what great civic learning does. I will carry our work together in this new professional chapter of public service as part of who I am. I hope you continue to shepherd the CivxNow coalition during this 250th year of our constitutional democracy and contribute to its strength and sustenance for years to come. 

In civics,

Ace Parsi