Democracy Schools Network

Monthly Update

March 2024

Voices of Change

For the last three years, the EdSurge Voices of Change writing fellowship has brought together diverse groups of K-12 educators and school leaders to share and reflect on their experiences through narrative storytelling. In these personal essays, fellows offer their thoughts on how teaching and learning are changing and discuss how they’re tackling challenges in their schools and classrooms. The most recent cohort of fellows courageously told stories about important issues such as embracing identity, leading with joy, teaching through grief, questioning curriculum , and rethinking classroom culture.

Are you a passionate educator or school leader fascinated by the intersection of identity, teaching, and learning? Have something to say about some of today’s pressing themes, including identity development, student success, mental health, technology, and how societal factors exacerbate inequities in education? Are you interested in sharing your perspective with a wider audience, while honing your writing chops under the guidance of EdSurge editors? Consider applying for this paid, 10-month fellowship, which will run during the 2024-25 school year.

Applications are now open for the fourth cohort of writing fellows. More information available here.

MyImpact Challenge



MyImpact Challenge is a civic engagement contest from the Bill of Rights Institute that rewards student service projects with cash prizes of up to $10,000. The goal is simple: foster robust comprehension of citizenship and get students active in their communities now!

MyImpact Challenge gives students a strong understanding of the role of the citizen in civil society by exploring the pillars of citizenship: entrepreneurship, charity, and government. It is developed with multiple implementations in mind, including classrooms, afterschool programs, and social clubs. With original background essays, guided resources, and rubrics, students will write a research report on the impacts of these different efforts, then develop and implement a project that exemplifies everyday citizenship.

Submissions must be received by Sunday, May 19, 2024. More details here.

Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)

is now Digital Inquiry Group (DIG)

The Stanford History Education Group is now the Digital Inquiry Group (DIG):

• DIG staff are the same people who have led SHEG since its founding in 2003, including Sam Wineburg, the Margaret Jacks Professor of Education and History, emeritus, and founder of SHEG, and DIG’s co-founder and executive director Joel Breakstone, who has led SHEG for the last ten years.
• All of SHEG’s lessons, assessments, and classroom posters are available on the DIG website and will continue to be freely available on the DIG site. 
• DIG will be releasing details about exciting new professional development opportunities in the coming months. Stay tuned.



You can reach the DIG team at info@inquirygroup.org.

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.

Registration information is available on the Guardians of Democracy homepage. Those who successfully complete the 5-week online course will earn a Bronze Certified Guardian of Democracy Educator badge via Badgr and the University of Central Florida Center for Distributive Learning.

Participants can earn 15 PD hours through the DuPage Regional Office of Education for an additional fee.

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. For more information, please visit the Guardians of Democracy homepage.

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

illinoiscivics.org