NEA is reflecting on civics teaching and learning as a cornerstone of democracy. Public education provides individuals with the skills to be involved, informed, and engaged in our representative democracy. How might we deepen those experiences for both educators and students for the betterment of our representative democracy?
America in 13 Years
Let’s start with 2026’s kindergartners! In 2038, the 250th anniversary of the Constitution, they will be graduating from high school. How might we take action over the course of their educational journey to instill civics knowledge, skills, attitudes/dispositions, and behaviors across the curriculum?
NEA’s Goal
In support of education as a cornerstone of democracy, NEA will increase the civic engagement of our members and their students through awareness, advocacy, and teaching and learning supports.
Keeping those kindergarteners in mind, NEA will focus on civic teaching and learning awareness, advocacy, and supports. Given their expertise and lived-civic commitment, our retired members were the first to join the effort.
“Retired educators live and breathe civic engagement. We are thrilled to be the first to lead NEA’s civic efforts,”
Anita Gibson, NEA Retired President.
Our Partners in Civic Education
NEA collaborates with others interested in deepening civic engagement in schools. While the real action begins with your state and local affiliate, NEA brings educator voice to national coalitions and conversations.
ACETA
For almost 20 years, the NEA has recognized three civics teachers annually with the American Civic Education Teacher Award (ACETA) along with our partners The Center for Civic Education and Indiana University's Center on Representative Government. We encourage teachers from all parts of the country and grade levels to apply. 2026’s awardees will be announced later this summer! The 2027 application will open in the spring.
ICivics
A newer partnership is with the iCivics, a civics advocacy organization Beyond their own work, they also facilitate CivxNow, the nation’s largest cross-partisan coalition working to prioritize civic education to sustain and strengthen constitutional democracy in the United States. NEA is a member and our effort, NEA Advancing Civic Learning, is in partnership with CivxNow’s Teachers Advancing Civic Learning (TALC), a grassroots civic teaching and learning policy effort in all 50 states.
Get involved
- Are you interested in exercising your civic muscle and bringing your lived experience and NEA’s values to your state's civics coalition?
- Would you like to share what you learn in this broad collation with your affiliate and contribute to your affiliate's civic efforts?
- Network with other members across state boundaries?
We need you! Here are three ways you can civic action today:
- Be in-the-know about external collaborative efforts at the state level
- Participate in opportunities
- Network with other NEA members from different states
Spread the Word
- Share this page and NEA's civic learning change theory with your delegation and/or local.
- Give feedback on the theory and/or share your interest to engage
Make your Vote Plan
- Visit NEA's EdVotes.org to make you plan to vote
