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
• U.S. Department of Education (USED) Updates
• MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Updates
• MCSS Updates
• Events, Resources, and Announcements

With the school year now well underway, we turn our attention to the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. There are many notable projects and events taking place in this historic year, from those sponsored by America 250 and the America 250 Civics Education Coalition (A250) at the national level, to those happening independently at both the national and local level. With a shared focus on Massachusetts, MCLC will be working with MA250 and other organizations to highlight events, resources, and other educational opportunities available here in Massachusetts. For MCLC, the many events of MA Civic Learning Week (March 9th to 13th, 2026) will mark the culmination of this anniversary year. Please see the details below, including an invitation from our own Casey Cullen—who serves on the MA Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution—outlining how you and your organization can participate. Join us in celebrating the unique place of Massachusetts in standing for liberty, pluralism, and independence for over 250 years.

Action Item #1

A250/MA250 — MA250 Commission and Sharing Your Resources

As part of MCLC’s work to take note of this 250th anniversary year, MCLC will be compiling educational resources and programs from member organizations and others to share with the MA250 Commission in November and throughout the year. This celebration will culminate during MA Civic Learning Week (see below). If your organization has resources to share, please include them in the MCLC MA250 Slide Deck that we are developing.

Casey Cullen, our coordinator for MA250, has shared more information on these plans in the following message:

 In an effort to raise the visibility of how our various organizations are commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Revolution, MCLC will present at the MA250 commission meeting in November. The date is not set as of now, but if you would like to join me in presenting I would love the company. It will either be virtual or a hybrid with an in-person presentation at the state house. As I have shared with some of you before I think it would be a good time to double dip with some advocacy/face time with legislators as well prior to our presentation. If you are doing something of note, please drop an image and some talking points into the slide deck and I will be in touch with you to present that material if you are not able to attend. If your organization is NOT doing any programming in regard to the 250th please disregard and do not feel any pressure to include a slide.

Many thanks,

Casey Cullen 

If you have questions or comments, please contact Casey: caseycullen77@gmail.com

Action Item #2

Hold the Date: MA Civic Learning Week

MA Civic Learning Week is a week-long celebration of civic learning that takes place every year during the second week of March (March 9th to 13th, 2026). The week features classroom and student-focused sessions, including student interviews with judges, educator workshops, youth-led forums, film screenings, and other events for educators, students, and the general public. Check out information, support from public officials, press coverage, and other background on previous Civic Learning Weeks on the MCLC website. We will share more details for this next event as the planning proceeds, but please hold the date. We look forward to seeing you at MA Civic Learning Week 2026!

MCLC Steering Committee — 4:00p.m. to 5:00p.m., November 3rd

Biweekly Planning Meetings — 3:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.; next meeting is October 15th

Advocacy — 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m., October 23rd

If you would like to attend one of these meetings, please contact David: david.buchanan@icivics.org

A250 Plans

The U.S. Department of Education (USED) has announced that it is partnering with a coalition of 41 conservative groups, including Turning Point USA and the Heritage Foundation that will create educational programming for the country’s 250th anniversary next year.

• USED Press Release 

• Press Coverage

Federal Funding for American History and Civics

The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded over $153 Million in American History and Civics Seminars Grants.

Patriotic Education — Comment Period

The U.S. Department of Education has opened a comment period on the administration’s Patriotic Education initiative, open through October 17th, 2025.

MCAS Results

DESE recently released the results of the 2025 Grade 8 Civics MCAS. The state reports that 39% of students met or exceeded expectations.

Other points about the 2025 MCAS to note:

• Massachusetts students' MCAS test scores are still largely below pre-pandemic levels, according to state officials.

• Only 13 out of hundreds of school districts reached pre-pandemic achievement levels in both English and Math.

• Compared to last year, English scores rose for Grades 3 to 8 but dropped for 10th Grade, while Math scores remained mostly stagnant or declined.

• For the first time, high school students were not required to earn a qualifying MCAS score to graduate.

• The results should be taken in the larger context of a continuing trend of chronic absenteeism, across the nation, as well as a new approach and significant investment by the state in a new approach to literacy development that still needs time to take hold.

For more detailed data, see the Profiles Page on the DESE site. To access released assessment items for the Civics Test in English and Spanish, click here. To view the items using a version of the computer platform that students used, click here.

Vertical Progression of Practice Standards

DESE’s new vertical progression of practice standards is now available to download here. This new progression includes more detailed grade-by-grade language and incorporates feedback from teachers and leaders. Thanks to all of you who provided feedback on this resource last school year!

Calling All Social Studies Leaders and Teachers!

The Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies is your professional organization. MCSS is on a march to raise our profile, our membership, and the ways that we support teachers and leaders in our state. Please complete the MCSS Interest and Feedback Survey to learn more and offer your ideas. If any discipline can develop a high-functioning and supportive professional network, it should be SOCIAL STUDIES educators! 

Benefits of Joining MCSS 

• Network with colleagues, build leadership skills, and develop resources with and for colleagues in your region and across the state.

• Organize, run, or receive professional development in content and pedagogy-driven workshops and courses with the opportunity to earn graduate credits.

• Advocate for social studies education state-wide and nation-wide.

• Be the first to learn about new resource materials and services.

• Build an organization of, by, and for social studies teachers and leaders in MA in a time when such a guiding light is sorely needed.

Upcoming PD Opportunities:

• Siege of Boston Tour — Relive the Siege of Boston with a day of expert-led tours built for history teachers on November 4th, 2025.

• Building Access to DBQs for Multilingual Learners — Explore open-source resources that scaffold Document-Based Questions (DBQs) to make them more accessible for multilingual learners.

iCivics Free Workshop for K-5 Educators

Elementary Essentials: Bringing Community, Curiosity, and Civics into K–5 Classrooms



Are you looking for ways to bring civics and fun into your K–5 classroom? Join iCivics for this free, one-day, in-person teacher workshop to gain teaching strategies and engaging resources. During this session, you’ll discuss inquiry-based teaching strategies, explore free iCivics elementary resources, practice incorporating inquiry and iCivics resources into your curriculum, and bridge connections between social studies and literacy.

Join us Thursday, October 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 123 Boston Post Rd W, Marlborough, MA. Register ASAP.

Coming Soon: History and Civics Curriculum Implementation Grants

The One8 Foundation, in partnership with the Civics and History Inquiry Partnership, will be offering two multiyear grant opportunities to support MA schools with the adoption and implementation of high quality history and civics curriculum for elementary and middle school grades in the 2026–2027 school year. One grant opportunity will support implementation of Investigating History in Grades 3–7 and the other will support implementation of Civic Engagement in Our Democracy in Grade 8. Selected schools will receive comprehensive curriculum-based professional development and school-specific implementation support for the duration of the grant. Applications will open on October 27th, with an informational webinar scheduled for November 5th from 9:00a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Interested? Please fill out this form to receive updates once the grant opportunities go live.

Civic Learning Institute, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Case Method Institute for Education and Democracy

Professional Development Opportunity for History, Government, and Civics Teachers 

The Case Method Institute (CMI) is offering exceptional, no-cost professional development opportunities this year for high school teachers of U.S. history, government, and civics. These programs introduce educators to the case method and the History of American Democracy case collection, developed by CMI founder Professor David Moss of Harvard Business School. When applied to history, the case method places students in the role of historical decision-makers and allows them to experience history as it unfolded. Educators who complete the PD gain access to 22 Harvard-developed cases on pivotal moments in U.S. democratic history, comprehensive teaching materials, and ongoing, personalized support from CMI staff, all free of charge. 

Choose from one of two pathways to get started:

•  A live Zoom-based workshop featuring an interactive session led by Professor Moss, with upcoming dates on November 3rd and December 8th; 

• Or a fully asynchronous option teachers can start right away. 

Visit cmi.org/apply to view CMI’s upcoming PD opportunities and sign up. Join the mailing list or download this brochure to learn more.

Massachusetts Association of Student Representatives (MASR)

Student representatives are invited to attend the MASR Delegate Assembly on Saturday, October 18th, 2025 from 8:30a.m. to 3:30p.m. at The Atrium at Mass Bay Community College - Wellesley Campus (50 Oakland St Wellesley Hills, MA).

Register here to secure your spot!

Instructional Resources

Local Civics - Transforming Civics, College, and Career Pathways

Our platform was created on a simple premise: to help connect people to their communities. We believe everyone should feel part of where they live, and that starts by understanding local civics. From education to engagement, we’re empowering youth to embrace their potential as change agents and to take an active role in shaping their communities for the better. 

We Can Teach Hard Things

The growing political divide in our communities has created a hesitation or all-out avoidance of approaching foundational civics and history topics. But We Can Teach Hard Things—and should! But you don’t have to do it alone. Let iCivics support you as you navigate the growing challenges of teaching essential civics concepts amidst historic polarization. This initiative is not about telling you how to teach. It is about giving you access to teachers across political and socioeconomic divides who are navigating the same challenges and questions, and giving you the tools and confidence to teach your way. Register for the upcoming webinars!

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 or Resource Form.