Last week CERL hosted more than 150 educators, researchers, and practitioners at Georgetown University for the We the People: National Symposium on Civic Education Research. Over two days, participants gathered to discuss new research findings from the James Madison Legacy Project Expansion (JMLPE), a three-year initiative designed to strengthen civic education across the country.
The project, implemented by the Center for Civic Education and evaluated by CERL, focused on expanding access to high-quality civic education through teacher professional learning and instructional resources. A key goal of the initiative was to support teachers working with students with disabilities and English learners, ensuring that the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (WTP) curriculum reaches and engages all students.
To learn more, check out the JMLPE final report or the executive summary.
We had several conversations over the two days about lessons, resources, and ideas that can continue to advance civic education. In this post, I reflect on some of my main takeaways from the symposium.
1. Students reminded us why civic education matters
To begin the symposium, we were joined by six 10th grade students from Howard County Public Schools. They demonstrated a simulated congressional hearing and answered questions about their experiences with the We the People curriculum. Their observations highlighted why powerful civic education matters.
For many of these students, social studies had not been their favorite subject. They completed the work but had not always felt deeply engaged. Simulated congressional hearings changed that. The experience gave them an opportunity to research complex issues, collaborate with classmates, and think critically about current events. It also sparked conversations with their families about politics and public issues.
The students demonstrated that civic education can advance more than civic knowledge. Activities like these help students develop skills that extend beyond the classroom. Our research shows that WTP students participate in media literacy activities, use research skills, and become more interested in political participation. Listening to the students speak, it was clear that they were experiencing many of these outcomes themselves.
2. Civic education connects across the curriculum
Another theme that emerged throughout the symposium was how civic education reinforces learning in many other subjects. Social studies has frequently been put on the back burner as schools prioritize STEM and literacy. However, as we’ve argued previously, a strong civics curriculum exposes students to literacy and STEM, reinforcing and expanding students’ knowledge and skills in these subjects.
These activities strengthen skills that are central to many disciplines. Students practice literacy skills as they analyze texts and evidence. They apply analytical and reasoning skills that overlap with STEM learning. They develop communication and collaboration abilities that are valuable in nearly every academic and professional field.
Civic education is not separate from the rest of the curriculum. In many ways, it helps bring those subjects together by giving students meaningful problems to explore.
3. Teachers are the key to strong civic education
Throughout the symposium, we heard inspiring stories from teachers who are working every day to strengthen their students’ civic knowledge and skills. Their experiences reflected the central finding of the JMLPE evaluation that professional learning helps teachers feel more prepared and confident teaching civics.
Teachers who participated in the program reported stronger civic content knowledge and greater confidence teaching key civic competencies. Many also reported greater use of instructional practices that engage students directly in the democratic process, including simulated congressional hearings, debates, and media literacy activities.
These findings reinforce an important lesson. Strong civic education depends on well-prepared teachers who have the knowledge, resources, and support needed to bring these lessons to life in the classroom.
Looking ahead
The National Symposium on Civic Education Research offered an opportunity to reflect on the progress made through the James Madison Legacy Project Expansion and to think about what comes next.
The conversations over those two days made one thing clear: when students, teachers, researchers, and practitioners come together around a shared commitment to civic education, powerful things can happen.
We are grateful to everyone who joined us at Georgetown for two days of thoughtful discussion about the future of civic education.
If you were in attendance, what were your key takeaways?
- Patrick McSweeney, CERL Research Specialist
Thanks for this work. It is important beyond words. If we intend to continue this experiment in self-government, we must teach and practice democracy itself.
Such important work!