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.
