Project Citizen is a civic education program for middle, secondary, and post-secondary students, as well as youth and adult groups. Its practical, first-hand approach promotes student interest and the ability to participate competently in state, local, and federal government.

The curriculum actively engages people in the process of monitoring and influencing public policy. Participants work as a group to identify and study a problem in their community. Their final product is a portfolio that may be presented to other classes, groups, community organizations, or policymakers.

Project Citizen is a powerful, practical curriculum, but we know it depends on the teachers who are hands-on with it in the classroom. So, we've developed strong professional learning resouces.

Students will follow a six-step process as they work together through the Project Citizen curriculum.

Students will identify several problems in their community or state that they think should be dealt with via public policy.

Students will use the research collected in step one to select a problem to focus on in their Project Citizen project.

Students will gather additional information on the chosen problem using a variety of resources.

Students will conduct the remainder of their research and create a four-part portfolio that explains their project.

This is an opportunity for students to display their knowledge of their chosen issue and the public policymaking process.

Finally, students will have the opportunity to reflect on their journey through the Project Citizen process.