In this issue:

• MCLC meetings this month
• Civic Learning Week (next week!)
• DESE updates

Welcome!

The days are getting longer and the birds are out. Spring is on the way. And with it comes MA Civic Learning Week - March 10 - 14. In this month’s newsletter you will find registration information and highlights from the range of sessions, in-person events, films and other activities. We believe that civic education has a vital role to play in the health of democracy and that everyone has a stake in the civic life of our communities, state, and nation. Please join us for this annual celebration of this commitment, and what we aspire to as Americans, government of, by, and for the people.

Please contact david.buchanan@icivics.org with questions or if you would like to join either -or both - of these meetings.



Curious if there's something for you?

We have sessions for everyone!

Sessions with Leading Public Officials and Other Highlights

• Opening Session: Engaging With Your Community, Changing Our World: What Fires You Up? A two-way discussion between Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and student leaders.

• Helping MA Students to Pre-Register, Register, and Vote An informative discussion with Michelle Tassinari, First Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth and Director and Legal Counsel of the Elections Division at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office.

• Legislative Advocacy Panel: Setting the Civics Learning Agenda for Massachusetts Educators, students, and others meet in-person with legislators at the Massachusetts State House to make the case for continued state funding for civics education.

• Students and Teachers Share: Keys to Civics Project Success The Social Studies team at DESE has arranged for this special session for teachers and students to share their work and showcase new strategies for civics projects.

• “Only Civics in the Building” History & Civics Podcast An entertaining live taping at the Old South Meeting House.

Sessions for Elementary Classrooms 

• Civil Rights, Civic Action
• Welcoming Words: “Her Right Foot” Story Hour
• Zoom with a Judge (Grades K-2)
• Zoom with a Judge (Grades 3-5) 

Sessions for Secondary Classrooms 

• “Only Civics in the Building” History & Civics Podcast Live Taping 
• Passion to Participation: Navigating Pathways to Civic Engagement and Civic Careers
• Student Voice in the Classroom and Community
• Zoom with a Judge: Know Your Rights

Sessions for Educators & the General Public

• Helping MA Students to Pre-Register, Register, and Vote
• Passion to Participation: Navigating Pathways to Civic Engagement and Civic Careers
• Student Voice in the Classroom and Community
• Students and Teachers Share: Keys to Civics Project Success
• Students Testify as Constitutional Experts

Sessions for the General Public 

• Engaging With Your Community, Changing Our World: What Fires You Up? (Opening Session)
• Free Speech in an Era of Digital Platforms
• "Holmes: The Film" Screening & Panel Discussion
• Legislative Advocacy Panel: Setting the Civics Learning Agenda for Massachusetts
• “Only Civics in the Building” History & Civics Podcast Live Taping 
• The Civic Implications of Safety in an Online World

Don't forget to celebrate teacher/student work.

We know there is great civic learning happening in schools across Massachusetts. Civic Learning Week is the time to celebrate it. If you have seen interesting, innovative, or high-quality work from students or educators (including yourself!) please help us build a collection of examples that we can share using the button below:

If you’re looking for other ways to engage other teachers and their students, share the new 2025 Civic Learning Week Educator Toolkit with educators and encourage them to participate with their classes. The Toolkit provides suggestions for how to participate in Civic Learning Week, activities for students for Civic Learning Week, suggestions for communications, including sample social media posts, and a host of other resources to support active participation in Civic Learning Week.

Grade 8 Civics MCAS - Members Needed for Standard Setting Panel

The Department invites educators and other stakeholders to apply to participate in a standard setting meeting for the Grade 8 MCAS Civics test. The meeting will be held August 5-7, 2025. Selected panelists will make recommendations on the level of content knowledge and skills that students must demonstrate for each achievement level.

The Department is recruiting panelists with content expertise, familiarity with the 2018 History and Social Science Massachusetts Curriculum Framework, grade 8 civics teaching experience, educators who serve students with disabilities and multilingual learners, and educators from institutions of higher education and organizations who are familiar with the Framework and middle school civics instruction. Apply online by Monday, March 24. Send any questions to mcas@mass.gov.

2025 Civics Project Showcases

Register by March 15 to bring your students to a Spring 2025 Civics Project Showcase DESE, in collaboration with Generation Citizen, will host four Massachusetts Civics Project Showcases across the Commonwealth in 2025. Showcases will be held on:  



• May 27th at UMass Dartmouth 
• May 28th at MassMutual Center in Springfield 
• June 2nd at DCU Center in Worcester 
• June 6th at Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston 



Want some help publicizing an event, resource or other announcement? MCLC can help. Submit info on your event or announcement via the Submit My Event form