Democracy Schools Network

Monthly Update

December 2025

What's in the Mix for 2026?

Dr. Shawn Healy, Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at iCivics

As the 2026 midterms approach, Senator Dick Durbin's pending retirement toppled dominoes throughout Illinois. The Lieutenant Governor and several US House members are among the contenders to replace him, providing opportunities for political upstarts in their respective districts. Plus, Governor Pritzker seeks a third term--while positioning himself for a presidential promotion two years later.

The stakes could not be higher in Washington, where Democrats seek a congressional check on the Trump Administration, or Springfield, where fiscal constraints continue to challenge state lawmakers.

Come learn about the current state of play just months before the Illinois Primaries in these contests and others down the ballot. Leave this webinar equipped to engage students in conversations about these candidates and prevailing issues, navigating public opinion polling and political advertising, and developing an excitement about and commitment to informed voting in this and future elections.

January 21, 2026

4-5 pm CST

SAVE THE DATE

March 9-13, 2026

Sign up here for updates.

Student-Judge Dialogue Initiative

We are excited to invite your school to participate in a new statewide initiative that empowers Illinois students to lead civic conversations with judges in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This effort brings together Illinois Democracy Schools, the judiciary, and leading civic education partners to deepen public understanding of the rule of law while giving students authentic opportunities to practice civil dialogue, leadership, and community engagement.

Through this initiative, schools will have the opportunity to:

• Host student-led conversations with Illinois judges about the courts, justice, and constitutional principles.
• Access high-quality civic learning resources, facilitation training, and classroom materials developed in collaboration with the ABA Division for Public Education and the Illinois Judicial College.
• Connect with statewide America250 programming and elevate student voice within a historic year of civic learning.
• Join a network of educators helping to strengthen trust in democratic institutions through meaningful discourse.

To help us plan and support schools across the state, we invite you to indicate your interest and share preliminary thoughts on logistics and budget needs for hosting an event. Please complete this brief form: https://bit.ly/IL250courts

Your input will guide our planning for training, scheduling, regional support, and potential funding opportunities. Participation can be scaled to fit your school’s needs—ranging from classroom conversations to larger community events.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the initiative further, please feel free to reach out at mdaneels@illinoiscivics.org

We hope you will join us in providing students with this unique opportunity to lead meaningful civic dialogue in a milestone year for our democracy.

Earn Your Microcredentials 

Become a Guardian of Democracy Educator

The Illinois Civics Hub has partnered with the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida to provide educators the opportunity to earn microcredentials in the proven practices of civic education embedded in the middle and high school civics course requirements in Illinois. Courses include:

• Current and Controversial Issue Discussions—Learn from academic experts Dr. Diana Hess & Dr. Paula McAvoy as you explore the purpose, role, and function of discussion strategies as pedagogical tools to equip young people to be engaged citizens. This course will enhance the practice of educators with strategies and resources to create a classroom climate in which there are equitable opportunities for ALL students to engage in dialogue about essential questions across the curriculum.

• Simulations of Democratic Processes—Learn from academic experts Dr. Walter Parker & Dr. Jane Lo as you explore how democratic processes and procedures occur as part of the regular functioning of government, in each of the three branches of government, and at each level of government. This course will guide you through the purpose, planning, and implementation of three simulations: town hall meetings, legislative hearings, and moot courts.

• Informed Action through Service Learning—Learn from academic experts Dr. Joseph Kahne and Jessica Marshall as you explore the purpose, role, and function of informed action through service learning as a pedagogical tool to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be active members of their community. In this course, you will interact with strategies and tools you can use in your classroom to support student-centered informed action through service learning.

• NEW: Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice—Learn from academic experts Dr. Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Dr. Shawn P. Healy, and Dr. Bonnie Laughlin Schultz as you explore how the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap can help teach constitutional democracy as both content and practice across disciplines K-12.

New courses beginning in 2026. More information here. Those who successfully complete the five-week online course will earn a Bronze Certified Guardian of Democracy Educator badge via Badgr and the University of Central Florida Center for Distributed Learning.

Participants can earn 15 PD hours through the DuPage Regional Office of Education. Please note that due to changes in our funding, the Democracy School Network is no longer able to offer a stipend to participants.

There are three strands of courses for each proven practice of civics education. Graduate credit is available through the University of St. Francis for completing all three courses. More information here.



Certificate Program Opportunity

Teach Different, in partnership with the Illinois Institute of Colleges and Universities, has secured funding through an Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) grant to certify a select group of Illinois social studies teachers in the Teach Different Conversation Method.

Teach Different provides a research-based, structured conversation framework using essential questions, claims, and counterclaims to spark meaningful dialogue, promote critical thinking, and strengthen emotional resilience.

What’s Involved?

• Complete Teach Different’s 8-week remote certificate program. This training includes two Zoom sessions, with the remainder of the work focused on applying the method in your own classroom and receiving feedback through an online platform. Click here for more detailed information on the program.

Why Participate?

• Receive professional training on how to start and manage classroom conversations.
• Receive 15 CPDUs of recertification credit.
• Earn one graduate credit from the University of St. Francis. (Teacher covers $100 cost.)
• Gain membership to an online professional learning community of educators around the country who are using the Teach Different Method.
• Earn a $250 stipend payable upon completion of the program and no later than June 30, 2026.

Spots are limited; sign up HERE for either the Winter or Spring Cohort.

Questions? Email Frank Houston, Program Coordinator at frankhouston@illinoisinstitute.us.

Check out our website for PD opportunities, resources and inspiration.

illinoiscivics.org