Illinois Center for Civic Education

The Illinois Center for Civic Education currently works with elementary, middle, and high school teachers throughout Illinois. Its main program is Illinois We the People, and the primary goal is to promote civic competence and responsibility among today’s youth. The We the People program does this by enhancing students’ understanding of the foundations of constitutional democracy and the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The design of the instructional program, specifically its innovative culminating activity, makes Illinois We the People successful with both teachers and students. In addition to strengthening student’s content knowledge, research studies have proven the long term impact of this critical program on student’s civic participation and political tolerance later in life.