This month we would like to highlight the Civics Learning Project. Read about the mission and how to get involved below!
OUR MISSION
The Civics Learning Project (CLP) believes that the best way to preserve democracy is to teach democracy. Our mission to support civics education statewide, helping Oregon’s youth grow into engaged community members. We are the only civic studies program in Oregon that brings teachers and students together with civic leaders, lawyers, and policymakers to create opportunities for K-12 students to engage in educational experiences and hands-on activities that demonstrate how our democratic process, legal system, and government work. CLP provides support to educators for in-school and extracurricular civics programming, including We the People simulated congressional hearings, Mock Trial, and Community Action Projects (CAPs) — our experiential learning program that asks students to identify a local public policy issue and develop an action plan to address it. Beyond our high-quality programming, we support educators through resources like lesson plans in the biweekly Current Events newsletter as well as through professional development opportunities including conferences, workshops, and individual consultations.
THE NEED
Right now, American civics education is in crisis. While partisanship divides conversations and communities, Americans are lacking essential civics knowledge. The Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey found that one in six Americans cannot name any of the three branches of the federal government, and that most cannot name their First Amendment rights. We are working to change this in classrooms across Oregon because we know access to high-quality civics education is life-changing, not just for the individual student but for the entire community. Programs like MockTrial and We the People invite students to step into real-world legal situations, providing increased college and career readiness through collaboration,
responsibility and problem-solving. The benefits continue after school is over, with research from the Education Commission of the States showing that alumni of experiential civics programs like CLP’s earn higher starting salaries following graduation from college, and ultimately reporting greater satisfaction with their careers. We believe that every student in Oregon deserves these life-changing, life-long, and community-wide benefits. Through CLP’s advocacy, Oregon recently enacted The Civics Education Act (SB 513), requiring that every senior graduating from high school receive at least one semester of civics education. Today, CLP is working to bridge Oregon’s rural-urban divide, with staff members located across the state who live and work directly in community with students, educators, and civic leaders. Our staff provide resources to teachers shaped by the real local issues students can see and experience in their own communities, inviting students to think about civics-oriented solutions to problems they identify in their communities. “Through the Civics Learning Project I found my voice,” Ridgley Scholar, CLP student Sydney Smith reflected, “I grew significantly both in advocacy and connecting with others. Mock Trial and Con-Law taught me the values of commitment, teamwork, perseverance, loyalty, and resilience. It taught me to never back down from a challenge.”
GET INVOLVED
Join us! Democracy depends on a community of people who understand how government and the law work—and who are willing to participate. This fall and winter, attorneys and other community members have an opportunity to play a direct role in that work by supporting CLP’s Mock Trial and We the People competitions.
For students, the people sitting across the table or courtroom matter. Volunteer judges, facilitators, and scorers provide the professional perspective that transforms these exercises from classroom assignments into authentic civic experiences. Skilled volunteers from the legal profession listen carefully, ask questions, evaluate performances, and offer constructive feedback that helps students understand what they did well and where they can improve.
If you’re interested in volunteering with CLP, please reach out to Emily Stewart, here
(emily@civicslearning.org).
Learn more about CLP, here (www.civicslearning.org).
