JOIN IN!! 

REGISTER TODAY FOR MASSACHUSETTS CIVIC LEARNING WEEK 

March 11 - 15, 2024

With just a few days to go until MA Civic Learning Week, take a moment to register today!

The theme this year is 2024 and Beyond: Civic Learning as a Unifying Force, and we have a full lineup of free, virtual events that are open to all. If you’re a teacher, register your classes for some memorable student-focused events.

Join us for the two signature events of MA Civic Learning Week

Opening Event: Get Involved! Youth & Adult Civic Leaders Share Their Experiences

Hosted by MCLC

Join us for the inspiring opening event, featuring a panel of youth leaders sharing their experiences in bringing about change on a whole range of issues from mental health to youth voting and climate change.

Legislative Session - In-Person State House Event: Civic Education and Its Impacts on Students & Teachers

Hosted by MCLC, 

Exercise your civic skills! Join educators, students and others to make the case directly to legislators for continued state funding for civic education.

Events for students/classrooms (during the school day):

Elementary Students Examine Presidential Campaigns and Elections (Grades K-5)

Hosted by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

From Civics to Career Readiness (Grades 6-12)

Hosted by Generation Citizen

Simulation: Pathways to Artificial Intelligence Regulation (Grades 6-8)

Hosted by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute

The Power of the Youth Vote (Grades 9 and above)

Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Tufts Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), and the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition 

Zoom with a Judge (Grades K-2)

Hosted by Discovering Justice

Zoom with a Judge (Grades 3-5)

Hosted by Discovering Justice

Zoom with a Judge: Know Your Rights (Grades 6-12)

Hosted by Discovering Justice

Events for educators/professional development:

Assessing Student Civic Learning: Practices & Approaches from Teachers & Researchers

Hosted by the Democratic Knowledge Project

Investing in Civics Teaching & Learning: Successes & Tips from DESE Grant Recipients

Hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Media Literacy & Civil Discourse: Tools of Engagement

Hosted by Facing History & Ourselves and Education Development Center

Events for policymakers and the general public

Opening Event: Get Involved! Youth & Adult Civic Leaders Share Their Experiences

Hosted by MCLC

In-Person State House Event: Civic Education and Its Impacts on Students & Teachers

Hosted by MCLC 

Youth Civic Engagement in Action: Student Representatives to School Committees

Hosted by the MA Association of Student Representatives

Share what’s happening in your school!

In addition to the main events of the week, MCLC encourages educators to share what’s happening in your own school. How?

Check out the 2024 Civic Learning Week Educator Toolkit to access resources for planning and communicating your participation in Civic Learning Week. The toolkit includes planning resources, sample social media posts, graphic assets, and more.

Civic Learning Week reminds all of us of our role as part of this self-governing society, and that each one of us should strive to make civic learning and engagement a lifelong endeavor.

As Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said, “The practice of democracy…must be taught and learned by each new generation.” We look forward to coming together this March to highlight and further energize the movement for civic education in Massachusetts. 

FY25 Civics Teaching and Learning Grant Now Available!

Applications due April 1st at 5:00 PM - RFP here!

Apply for this competitive grant to strengthen civics teaching and learning for your students. School districts, charters, and collaboratives may apply for up to $70,000 in funding (exact funding availability based on size of district). Funds may be used towards:

• curricular materials
• professional development and/or collaborative planning
• support for civics projects
• hosting or participating in a civics project showcase
• instruction or activities related to the 2024 election cycle, including voter registration and voter education activities for high school students.

The full Request for Proposals can be found here. 

Note: The application for this grant is available via DESE’s new GEM platform (fund code 0589). If you are interested in applying for this grant and do not have a GEM$ account, please contact your district grants coordinator.