What We Do
The Center for Civic Education helps students develop (1) an increased understanding of the institutions of constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded, (2) the skills necessary to participate as competent and responsible citizens, and (3) the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict. Ultimately, the Center strives to develop an enlightened citizenry by working to increase understanding of the principles, values, institutions, and history of constitutional democracy among teachers, students, and the general public.
To fulfill this mission, the Center develops high-quality instructional materials, provides exceptional professional learning for teachers, and advocates for stronger civic education in the United States and emerging democracies.
Civics Curriculum
The Center provides research-backed curricular programs that have been trusted by teachers for decades. Our primary curricular programs are We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution and Project Citizen.
Professional Development
The Center for Civic Education offers high-quality professional development through its state partners, national events funded by federal grants, self-guided online courses, and webinars.
Network of Educators
The Center partners with a network of 50 state programs. These state programs conduct local teacher professional development and organize local and state simulated congressional hearings for students, impacting thousands of teachers and students each year.
Newsroom
Media Inquiries
818-591-9321
cce@civiced.org
- For information on the Center's programs
- Interviews with experts on the Constitution, civic education, public policy, and emerging democracies
- Referrals to classroom civic teachers
Pauline WeaverChair
Pauline WeaverChair
Pauline Weaver has dedicated her professional career to the law and to legal and civic education. She currently serves as the secretary of the American Bar Association. Previously, she led ... [read more]
Timothy D. MooreVice Chair
Timothy D. MooreVice Chair
Timothy Moore currently serves as the Deputy Director for the Study of the American Constitution (CSAC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a documentary editor of the ... [read more]
Clara SlifkinSecretary
Clara SlifkinSecretary
Clara Slifkin has practiced criminal, civil, and administrative law in state, federal, and administrative courts in her four decades as an attorney in California ... [read more]
The Center for Civic Education partners with a network of 50 state civics, government, and law programs sponsored by state bar associations and foundations, colleges and universities, and other civic and law non-profit organizations to promote teaching and learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. These state programs conduct local teacher professional development, hold conferences and organize local and state simulated congressional hearings for elementary and secondary students. Each year these state programs impact thousands of teachers and tens of thousands of students. If you would like to know more about your state program click on the map.
National Advisory Council
The Center for Civic Education's National Advisory Council provides insight to Center leadership and staff on strategic issues facing the organization, which includes advice on programming, communications and long-term planning in the national civic and constitutional education space.Read more about the Center's National Advisory Council ->
Together, the state bar and the UCLA committee created an executive committee for the Law in a Free Society Program composed of leading scholars, educators, and members of the legal profession. In 1981, this committee became the board of directors of what is now known as the Center for Civic Education. Founding members of the board made significant contributions to the development and expansion of the Center’s programs, which are now implemented in every state and in eighty-two other countries.
Read more about the Center's Founders ->
Read more about the Center's Founders ->
Donna PhillipsPresident
Donna PhillipsPresident
Donna Phillips is the Center for Civic Education’s president, leading the Center’s ambitious strategic plan in development, implementation, and innovation of its national and international programs ... [read more]
John ThurmanVice President & Chief Operating and Financial Officer
John ThurmanVice President & Chief Operating and Financial Officer
John Thurman is the Center for Civic Education’s Vice President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer. He is responsible for the financial and business management of the Center as the organization ... [read more]
Mara TolasSenior Director of Development
Mara TolasSenior Director of Development
Mara Tolas is the Senior Director of Development. Dedicated to engaging friends of the Center and supporters of civic education, she works to advance the mission by deepening relationships and... [read more]
History of the Center
1965
The Beginning
The Center began as the Committee on Civic Education at the University of California at Los Angeles.
1965
1965-67
The Committee developed and implemented professional development programs with nationwide participants supported by the Danforth Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education under the National Defense Education Act and the Education Professions Development Act.
The Committee developed and implemented curricular programs in civics and government entitled, Your Rights and Responsibilities as an American Citizen; Conflict, Politics and Freedom; and Voices for Justice.
The Committee developed and implemented curricular programs in civics and government entitled, Your Rights and Responsibilities as an American Citizen; Conflict, Politics and Freedom; and Voices for Justice.
1967-69
The Committee created and administered a statewide curricular program on the Bill of Rights sponsored by the Advisory Panel to the Committee on Teaching About the Bill of Rights of the California State Board of Education.
1967-69
1969
The Center became affiliated with the State Bar of California.
1969-74
The Center was funded by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration of the U.S. Department of Justice and the California Council on Criminal Justice to develop and implement the Law in a Free Society professional development program in ten major school districts in California. The program was based on concepts fundamental to an understanding of politics and government. It was conducted under the auspices of the Extension Division of the University of California at Los Angeles.
1969-74
1974
The Center became a program of the State Bar of California.
With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Center produced the first editions of the Law in a Free Society/Foundations of Democracy multi-media curriculum materials.
With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Center produced the first editions of the Law in a Free Society/Foundations of Democracy multi-media curriculum materials.
1979
The Center became part of a consortium implementing civic education programs throughout the nation funded by the U.S. Department of Education under the Law Related Education Act. Other members included the Constitutional Rights Foundations of Los Angeles and Chicago, Street Law, and the Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship of the American Bar Association.
1979
1981
The Center became an independent 501(c)(3) California nonprofit corporation affiliated with the State Bar of California.
1982
With funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Center began the Youth for Justice program in conjunction with the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Street Law, the American Bar Association, and Phi Alpha Delta. The Center promoted the implementation of its Foundations of Democracy program through this funding.
1982
1987
We the People Program Begins
With funding through the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, the Center started the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program and published the first We the People text, which was for high school students. The We the People program won national acclaim as a civic education program focusing on the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. It has since been implemented in every state and congressional district and the District of Columbia.
1988
The Center published the We the People texts at the elementary and middle school levels.
The Center began The Disney Channel Salutes the American Teacher and The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards.
The Center began The Disney Channel Salutes the American Teacher and The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards.
1988
1991
The Center published CIVITAS: A Framework for Civic Education, which was developed in conjunction with educators in every state as well as several other countries.
1992
The We the People program continued as a direct line item in the budget of the U.S. Department of Education and became an authorized program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for twenty-three years.
1992
1993
Project Citizen Program Begins
The Center created We the People: Project Citizen, which was incorporated into the ESEA as an authorized educational program. Project Citizen is a portfolio-based curricular program that promotes engaged participation in local, state, and federal government.
1994
The Center published the National Standards for Civics and Government, developed in conjunction with more than two thousand scholars, educators, and members of the general public. The National Standards have been widely used as a model for state curricular frameworks and standards throughout the country and in a number of other nations describing what students should know and be able to do in the field of civics and government at the end of grades 4, 8, and 12.
1994
