The Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC) is a non-partisan coalition of over 60 nonprofits, educators, universities, and other partners committed to renewing our democracy by ensuring that all students gain the knowledge and experience of civic engagement to become thoughtful and active participants in building a better tomorrow. 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.

In this Issue:

• MCLC Message
• MCLC Action Items
• MCLC Upcoming Meetings
• MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Updates
• MA Council for the Social Studies (MCSS) Updates
• Events, Resources, and Announcements
• Submissions for the Newsletter

We are heading into a busy Civic Season! For the next couple weeks, students are presenting their community-based research projects at the 2026 Civics Project Showcases, hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Generation Citizen. This year’s Showcases got off to a great start in Springfield, with 235 students from 14 school districts presenting 92 student-led civics projects to 76 community advisors. The event featured remarks by Pedro Martinez, Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. There’s still time to register for Showcases on June 1 and June 5 as a community advisor.

A wide array of events coming up commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And, our high school voter registration program is emerging! We're planning to release educator guidelines in June and then produce materials to help students become Youth Voting MASSters! The program launch is expected on September 15, which is National Voter Registration Day this year.

Schools will be able to take any of several approaches to their twice-yearly registration events: student- or teacher-taught voter readiness curriculum, an assembly with election officials, voter registration drives, or video training. If you have any ongoing Civic Engagement Opportunities for Youth (both statewide and national) that should be included, please email joyce@lifteveryvote.org – thank you!

Civics Project Trust Fund Advocacy Update

The MA State Senate unanimously approved an amendment increasing Civics Project Trust Fund funding from $2.5M to $2.75M for FY27. While short of MCLC's goal, it's a win for civic education. The bipartisan amendment was introduced by Senator Becca Rausch. A Conference Committee will now reconcile the House and Senate budget versions before a final vote—and the MCLC Advocacy Committee will alert members if further action is needed. Thank you to everyone who contacted their legislators!

High School Voter Registration

To help promote the high school voter registration program, if we can help organizations develop voting content, we’d love to do so. Contact Voting Subcommittee Chair joyce@lifteveryvote.org.

Have a question or want to get more involved in our advocacy efforts? Reach out to us!

2026 Civic Advocacy Fellow Mateusz Kudra mateusz@partnersindemocracy.us 

MCLC Advocacy Subcommittee Chair Katie Giles kgiles@civichistory.org

If you would like to attend one of these meetings, please contact lbrenner@discoveringjustice.org.

New Grades 3-5 Investigating History Units Now Available

New units are now available for Grades 3–5 of Investigating History, a comprehensive, inquiry-based social studies curriculum developed by DESE in collaboration with educators and content experts.

For the 2026–27 school year, DESE is publishing Grades 3–4 of the curriculum for the first time, as well as a revised Grade 5 course. Grades 6–7 were previously released in revised form this school year. 

Newly available units include Grade 3, Unit 1: Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast; Grade 4, Unit 1: Geography of North America; and Grade 5, Unit 1: Before and Beyond the Colonies. The remaining units at these grade levels will be published in summer and early fall.

Learn more about Investigating History on the DESE website.

Tackling the Challenges of Teaching in These Times - Join a PLC!

Teaching and leading social studies today is increasingly complex. Often, the specific answers and support educators need aren’t available within their own districts. Massachusetts, however, is home to incredible expertise and curiosity. MCSS is creating networks of professional support through issue-specific Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that help teachers and leaders solve problems and share high-level expertise.

Leadership Opportunities

We’re social studies educators who care deeply about social studies education. MCSS is you, and to propel our work, MCSS needs you. Consider the following opportunities for leadership, chipping in a couple hours a month, typically.

• Launch/facilitate a Professional Learning Community
• Coordinate and promote our PLC program
• Coordinate or launch a regional network of SS Leaders
• Help organize MCSS Spring Conference in 2027
• Help publish our monthly Newsletter 
• Help build our social media presence
• Serve as MCSS Treasurer
• Coordinate the MCSS Resource Hub (launching soon)
• Curate and build resource ideas around a curricular topic for the Hub
• Help organize the annual MCSS Educator Awards
• Organize/Teach a PD course

Reach out to Todd Wallingford (twallingford@hudson.k12.ma.us) with your questions or interest.

Join MCSS!

Districts and organizations should join today! Enjoy membership benefits, which include discounts for PD and the annual conference. Simply complete this Membership Form.

Enter the "We Declare" Challenge: Deadline Extended to June 3!

iCivics and supporting sponsors invite every 8th grade student and educator in Massachusetts to take part in the We Declare! Challenge, a dynamic opportunity to perform a dramatic reading of the document that sparked it all: The Declaration of Independence.

Students record a video of their class reading from the first two paragraphs of the Declaration, adding their creative ideas with props, music, gestures, location, and more. Every submission earns a $100 gift card for the class and a chance at scholarships and an appearance at the Boston Pops July 4th Celebration.

Full rules and timeline at bit.ly/we-declare-challenge.

Local Civics Community Champions Award - Now Accepting Applications

Local Civics is excited to announce the Community Champions Award, a grant opportunity for Massachusetts students completing DESE Civics Projects as part of their 8th grade or high school curricula. Selected students will receive $250–$500 to help bring their civic project to life beyond the classroom.

To apply, students complete a badge on PathLink, Local Civics' graduation pathway platform, that walks them through the following:

    • Introducing themselves and their project

    • Identifying their focus area, stakeholders, and intended community impact

    • Submitting a budget and funding proposal

    • Sharing an implementation plan and civic reflection

Students at schools that already use PathLink can log in at citizen.localcivics.io and find the Community Champions Award pathway in the Badges section. Students (ages 13+) at schools can still participate.



Please see the website for details: localcivics.io/community-champions-award.

Our Declaration: “We the People” and the Declaration of Independence

Civic Learning Institute

July 8–August 5, 2026 

Live Sessions: July 8, 7–9pm ET; August 5, 7–9pm ET

At the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, join Danielle Allen, an expert on the Declaration and Harvard professor, for an online course to deepen your knowledge about this foundational document. Explore the Declaration's history and impact, its arguments for freedom and equality, and its religious appeals, and consider how these lessons can be effectively incorporated into classroom practice. 

Please see the website for information: https://www.civiclearninginstitute.org/courses.

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Deadline: 1st Monday of the month.