Inspired by local and regional events last year, the national Civic Learning Week (CLW) is hosted by iCivics and seeks to highlight the importance of civic education in sustaining and strengthening constitutional democracy in the United States.



By highlighting the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions that provide the foundation for an informed and engaged populace, CLW seeks to further energize the movement to prioritize civic education across the nation.

There are events for:

• Educators: Gain and provide insight and inspiration, sharing the latest effective teaching practices and innovations, and joining in shared civic learning opportunities throughout the week.
• Students: Engage in shared civic learning opportunities throughout the week with other students nationwide.
• Community members: Participate in a series of events to highlight the critical role different groups (e.g., business leaders, and members of the military) play in ensuring high-quality civic education is accessible for each and every student across the nation.

For a full listing of events, visit the CLW website!

Join the Illinois Civics Hub as we welcome Retro Report for a look at the stories of history through the lens of first-person narratives. We will examine issues of Japanese-American incarceration, immigration, and civil rights through Retro Report short films and classroom resources. Explore how these powerful narratives can be used to implement the revised social science standards and civics course mandates, as well as history course mandates.

The webinar is FREE, and PD credits are available through the DuPage Regional Office of Education. Register for the March 15 webinar from 3:30-4:45 p.m. CT using this link.

Future ICH webinars include:

• 4/26– Teaching Inclusive History with the Chicago History Museum – Challenging the Status Quo: Activist Women in Chicago: Discover how women have organized to challenge the status quo. Join the Chicago History Museum to explore what the vote did and did not accomplish and for whom, learn the various issues that led women down the path to fight for voting rights, and see how that activism continued beyond suffrage.

You can visit the ICH Professional Development page for more opportunities to enhance your practice.

This past July, the revised Illinois Social Science standards and new course mandates went into effect for the 2022-23 school year.

Our work to support the implementation of the revised standards and course mandates continues this spring with a series of Administrator Academies offered virtually to give school-based teams equitable opportunities to enhance their practice.

• 3/16- AA #3862: Sorting Facts from Fiction: How to Respond to Misinformation in the Current Culture Wars (Asynchronous and Virtual)



• 4/18- AA #3930- Deconstructing the IL Social Science Standards and Course Mandates for Curriculum Design (Online)

These Academies are open to administrators and teachers for either Academy credit or PD hours. School-based teams are encouraged to participate and will have an opportunity to collaborate and reflect on learning through each session. Individual participants will have the opportunity to work with affinity groups in breakout rooms.

Visit the Illinois Civics Hub for more information on professional development to support rigorous and relevant civic learning.

The Women's History Month website is a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Gallery of Art, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. This website provides ready-to-use lesson plans, activities, and collection guides that utilize primary sources spanning the course of American History.

There are numerous civic learning providers who have created resources to teach women's history this month and beyond. Here are several to explore:

• iCivics
• PBS Learning Media
• Bill of Rights Institute
• Civics Renewal Network
• National Constitution Center



The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) is the research and education agency of the judicial branch of the United States Government. The Center supports the efficient, effective administration of justice and judicial independence. Its status as a separate agency within the judicial branch, its specific missions, and its specialized expertise enable it to pursue and encourage critical and careful examination of ways to improve judicial administration.

Join the American Bar Association (ABA) Division for Public Education and the FJC in Washington, DC for this unique teachers’ professional development using great federal trials as a lens to explore the judiciary, rule of law, and US Constitution throughout American history. During the Summer of 2023, participants will explore Olmstead v. US and US v. NYTimes (the Pentagon Papers case).

When:  June 25-30, 2023

Where:  Washington, DC (travel and lodging costs included)

Applications due March 10. Use this link to apply.

Questions? Email catherine.hawke@americanbar.org.

The Illinois Council for the Social Studies and Department of History at Eastern Illinois University invites you to attend the ICSS Spring 2023 Conference, held on the campus of Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, on Friday, March 31, 2023.

The landscapes in which social studies is learned and taught are increasing in complexity. With both exponential growth in resources for inquiry and often the uninformed critique of what takes place in classrooms, social studies professionals must navigate barriers and recognize opportunities. Dialogue is needed to support and grow the important work of historical, geographic, economic, and civic development of future generations. The theme “Social Studies in Today’s Landscape” encourages conference participants to consider the intersectionality of external processes with the dynamics of a diverse range of social studies learning spaces. Three strands are of specific focus:

1. Doing justice with social studies
2. Cultivating informed and engaged citizens
3. Pedagogy, Best Practices, and Partnerships

The ICSS Spring Conference engages practicing PK-12 social studies teachers, preservice teachers, university faculty, social studies researchers, and concerned citizens. Participants will explore a variety of topics and sessions that are pertinent to social studies students and teachers in the field across grade levels and social studies content areas.

Earn Professional Development hours while engaging with colleagues, learning new techniques, discussing current issues, and growing in your social studies teaching. With so much focus on the work we do as social studies professionals, engagement in collegial dialogue is becoming more important than ever. Join your colleagues for engaging sessions that explore the present and future directions of professional social studies education.

Visit the ICSS website for more information and to register.

Join Constitutional Rights Foundation for a one-hour virtual field trip where students from urban, suburban, and rural communities across the country will work together to discuss the importance of our constitutional rights and identify the strengths of our democracy and areas for improvement.

During the virtual field trip, your students will:

• Have conversations with students from different geographical locations
• Work through a series of collaborative activities
• Share their ideas and find common ground

Participating teachers will receive a stipend of $250 for participating and providing brief feedback on the program. Plus, each class will receive lunch.

To match schools from different geographical areas, we have limited slots available for urban, suburban, and rural schools. We will accommodate as many classes as possible based on sign-ups. 

This program is offered to high school teachers and students.

Questions? Contact Kathleen at kathleen@crf-usa.org.

Register Today!



MyImpact Challenge is a civic engagement contest hosted by the Bill of Rights Institute. The goal is simple: foster a robust understanding of citizenship and get students active in their communities now!

Student service projects can win up to $10,000, with $40,000 in total prizes available to students and teachers. Every project that meets the entry guidelines will be rewarded with a digital Civic Achievement badge.

Click here to learn more!



The National Archives is now accepting applications for the 2023 Civics for All of US Teacher Institute in Washington, DC, July 17–21.

Teachers working with grades 3–12 are invited to apply for the inaugural Civics for All of US Teacher Institute with the National Archives in Washington, DC. 

During this week-long program, twenty educators will explore how to use National Archives holdings to teach the civic knowledge and skills students need for civic engagement in the 21st century, with a special emphasis on media literacy. Participants will engage with primary sources to shed light on the successes, failures, debates, and challenges in the history of our democracy and discover resources for sharing diverse perspectives and historically underrepresented voices in classroom civics lessons. This professional development experience will also highlight resources for fostering civic participation at any age through examples of student voices in the archives. 

Click here to learn more!



Join Facing History and Ourselves on March 7 for an evening with Dorothy L. Espelage, Ph.D., renowned expert in bullying prevention and intervention. Dr. Espelage will discuss findings from her two decades of research with a focus on identity-based bullying and school- and home-based prevention strategies. 

Learn about innovative efforts to address bullying and other school safety issues such as developing apps for students to share their emotional and physical safety concerns and youth-led student campaigns to address mental health issues and improve school climate. Discuss strategies that school staff and parents can use to better communicate and work together. Dr. Espelage’s talk will be followed by a panel discussion with youth and a Q&A from the audience. Parents, caregivers, educators, and youth are encouraged to attend.

This webinar is the first installment of our Combating Bullying & Bias speaker series, hosted by Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Facing History & Ourselves. The series is sponsored by the Choose Kindness Project.

March 7, 2023 | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm CS

Register Here

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and education Center is asking educators to take a few minutes to complete this survey on Holocaust and genocide education in America. The results of this survey will be widely distributed, and may inform both pedagogy and policy in the years to come. The survey's logic is such that you will only be asked questions that are relevant to your teaching practices, and it can be completed in as little as three minutes. What you know about how the Holocaust is taught is almost as valuable as your time, and we thank you so much for your participation. 

CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY

iCivics is committed to help every student understand our system of government and inspire them to be civically engaged. Empower and equip your English learners (ELs) and multilingual learners (MLs) with iCivics resources.

Games: Many of our iCivics games come complete with English Language Learning (ELL) supports and Spanish translations. Play favorites like Do I Have a Right? or Win the White House in Spanish and/or English with your students!

Extension Packs: Spanish-language Extension Packs (available for all Spanish-translated games) provide tips, instruction, and guidance on making the most of our games in the classroom. These extension activities build reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills—as well as content knowledge!

Infographics: Since infographics present information concisely and in manageable chunks, they are an effective and accessible visual resource to share with ELs and MLs. We also have a growing library of infographics available in Spanish.

Language does not have to be a barrier to involving all your students in civics education. 

Click here for iCivics Resources for ELS/MLS .

Civics 101 is teaming up with Periodic Presidents in a project called Sound and Vision. Periodic Presidents are creating visual representations of Civics 101 episodes.

These posters will be available for free download and use in classrooms, or you can order full prints from the Periodic Presidents website, and will be created both in order of Civics 101 most popular episodes to the general public (The President and the Price of Gas), in tandem with the episodes used most in schools (How a Bill ((Really)) Becomes a Law). 

Click here to find out more and download posters.

Each year, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) invites elementary, middle, and high school students from around the country to enter our civics education essay contest. The contest is designed to promote civics education and deepen students’ understanding of U.S. government.

The success of the contest would not be possible without your assistance. NCSC relies on educators, non-profit organizations, court partners and others to help spread the word.

Visit ncsc.org/contest to discover this year’s essay questions/prompts, entry guidelines, promotional materials and more!

Essays will be accepted online through midnight ET, Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Winners will be announced on May 1.

Please contact Molly Justice for additional information.

Deliberations allow teachers to help students cooperatively discuss contested political issues by carefully considering multiple perspectives and searching for consensus.

Street Law has developed a robust library of Deliberation resources including materials for several Deliberation topics, social-emotional learning resources to support students as they participate in Deliberations, and an instructional video and handouts to help teachers and students understand the Deliberation process. 

Street Law's newest Deliberations include:

• Should Congress set new limits on the president's powers during times of national emergency?
• Should ancient artifacts be returned to their countries of origin?
• Should police officers be assigned to schools? (Middle School)
• Should police officers be assigned to schools? (High School)

Check them out TODAY!

Join PBS Wisconsin Education for a discussion on implementing media literacy in the classroom and developing strategies to teach students how to be savvy consumers of information and media. The webinar will take place on March 22 from 4-5:30 p.m. CT. You can register using this link.

A webinar on media literacy for early learners will be held on April 3 starting at 4 p.m. CT. You can register using this link.  

Bill of Rights Institute (BRI) is bringing a FREE professional development seminar to Concordia University in March.

Date: 3/23/23

Time: 8am–3pm, breakfast and lunch provided

Topic: Plainest Demands of Justice: Dialogues on the African American Experience

Location: Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, IL

Register here!

This event will allow participants to engage with a scholar expert to examine the African American experience throughout history using the newly- released primary source set. It will offer attendees rich interaction with BRI staff and fellow teacher colleagues as they share ideas of pedagogy and practical classroom applications. Please contact the BRI Events Team if you have any questions.

With its historic passage in April of 2021, the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (T.E.A.A.C.H.) Act amended Illinois School Code, ensuring every public elementary and high school student in Illinois learns about the contributions of Asian Americans to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States.

The Illinois Civics Hub is partnering with Asian Americans Advancing Justice to offer FREE PD hours to K-12 educators looking to deepen their own understanding of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) history as well as classroom resources to support cross-cultural education for all students in Illinois aligned with the revised social science standards.

Educators can click the links below to choose from the following webinar opportunities:

• 3/7-   Teaching about the Asian American Experience: A Primer  for Elementary K-5 (Online)
• 3/16-  Teaching about the Asian American Experience: A Primer for Secondary 6-12 (Online)
• 3/18-  Teaching about the Asian American Experience: A Primer for Secondary 6-12 (Online)
• 3/27-  Teaching about the Asian American Experience: A Primer for Secondary 6-12 (Online)

Be sure to visit the Asian Americans Advancing Justice site for more resources to implement the T.E.A.A.C.H. Act.



The Illinois Civics Hub has partnered with the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida to provide educators the opportunity to earn their microcredentials in the proven practices of civic education embedded in the middle and high school civics course requirements in Illinois. Courses include:

• Current and Controversial Issue Discussions—Learn from academic experts Dr. Diana Hess & Dr. Paula McAvoy as you explore the purpose, role, and function of discussion strategies as pedagogical tools to equip young people to be engaged citizens. This course will enhance the practice of educators with strategies and resources to create a classroom climate in which there are equitable opportunities for ALL students to engage in dialogue about essential questions across the curriculum.

• Simulations of Democratic Processes—Learn from academic experts Dr. Walter Parker & Dr. Jane Lo as you explore how democratic processes and procedures occur as part of the regular functioning of government, in each of the three branches of government, and at each level of government. This course will guide you through the purpose, planning, and implementation of three simulations: town hall meetings, legislative hearings, and moot courts.

• Informed Action through Service Learning—Learn from academic experts Dr. Joseph Kahne and Jessica Marshall as you explore the purpose, role, and function of informed action through service learning as a pedagogical tool to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be active members of their community. In this course, you will interact with strategies and tools that you can use in your classroom to support student-centered informed action through service learning.

Registration information is available on the Guardians of Democracy homepage. Those who successfully complete the 5-week online course will earn a Bronze Certified Guardian of Democracy Educator badge via Badgr and the University of Central Florida Center for Distributive Learning.

Participants can earn 15 PD hours through the DuPage Regional Office of Education for an additional fee.

There are three strands of courses for each proven practice of civics education. Graduate credit is available through the University of St. Francis for completing all three courses. For more information, please visit the Guardians of Democracy homepage.



The Council for State Social Studies Supervisors has compiled a list of the wealth of professional development opportunities available to social studies educators in the summer of 2023. A special thanks to all of the organizations who contributed to this work and the many organizations offering high-quality social studies professional development for social studies teachers across the country. Many of the opportunities are offered for free or at a low cost. Please email Stefanie Wager at stefanie.rosenbergwager@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or to add programs to this list.