Civic Learning Award For CA Public Schools
Recognizing the important role of public schools in preparing students for participation in our democracy.2024–25 Application
The application period for the 2024–25 Civic Learning Award for California public schools will be posted in February 2025, to the Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative Civic Learning Award
web page. The due date will be March 31, 2025.
About the Civic Learning Award
The Civic Learning Award for public schools is co-sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Tony Thurmond and California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. The awards are designed to both celebrate successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and to identify successful models that can be replicated in other schools.
The Civic Learning Award program has three levels: Awards of Excellence, Distinction, and Merit. Winners are selected by a panel of experts based on the depth and breadth of their civic learning classes, clubs, and programs. Schools receiving the highest honor, the Award of Excellence, traditionally receive a visit by the Chief Justice.
In response to the challenges brought by COVID-19, the 2021 and 2022 awards were adapted to honor single programs, classes, or clubs. Public health directives prevented onsite visits to celebrate the awardees. For 2023, the Civic Learning Awards returned to honoring schools committed to integrating civics campus-wide, promoting positive citizenry inside the classroom and out, and promoting the State Seal of Civic Engagement.
The 2024 Civic Learning Awards of Excellence will be presented to schools in September (Constitution Month) by SSPI Tony Thurmond and California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero.
The California Department of Education hopes that you will take this opportunity to recognize the civic educators at your school and share this information with them. Additional information is available from the Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative
web page.