The Michigan Center For Civic Education

TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGAGED, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS THE MICHIGAN CENTER FOR CIVIC EDUCATION STRENGTHENS CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY THROUGH AUTHENTIC CIVIC EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. MCCE ADVANCES THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND DISPOSITIONS FOR TEACHERS,STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN EQUITABLE AND DYNAMIC CIVIC LIFE.

MIICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL TOURNAMENT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TRANSFORM THEMSELVES INTO ATTORNEYS AND WITNESSES TO ENACT TRIALS USING CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL CASE MATERIALS. STUDENTS COMPETE AGAINST OTHER SCHOOLS IN REAL COURTROOMS IN FRONT OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS. PROGRAM CONSISTS OF: DEVELOPMENT OF CASE MATERIALS, MOCK TRIAL CLINICS, NUMEROUS REGIONAL EVENTS, A STATE SHOWCASE, AND AIDS IN THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL. MOCK TRIAL INCLUDES COURTROOM ILLUSTRATION AND ARTISTRY PLUS COURTROOM JOURNALISM.

OUTREACH THE MICHIGAN CENTER FOR CIVIC EDUCATION'S OUTREACH SERVES TO BRING IN CHAMPIONS OF CIVIC EDUCATION TO ADVANCE THE AWARENESS OF AND PROMOTION OF CIVIC AND LAW-RELATED EDUCATION. IN ORDER TO CREATE AWARENESS, THE CENTER PROVIDES COMMUNITY SESSIONS TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE CENTER. OUTREACH INCLUDES CONFERENCES, PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND LEARNING SESSIONS TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION AND CENTER PROGRAMS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS. OUTREACH ALSO INCLUDES WORK WITH THE MICIVICS COALITION TO ADVANCE CIVIC AND LAW RELATED EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN.

WE THE PEOPLE A K-12+ PROGRAM THAT ENHANCES STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AND HELPS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE OF THE CONSTITUTION INCLUDING THE BILL OF RIGHTS. CULMINATING ACTIVITIES ARE SIMULATED CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS WHERE STUDENTS "TESTIFY" BEFORE A PANEL OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS (LAWYERS, JUDGES, CIVIC LEADERS, EDUCATORS). THE PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES WHILE ENGAGING IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AROUND IMPORTANT CIVIC QUESTIONS. PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, DISTRICT EVENTS, STATE SHOWCASES, AND SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL WE THE PEOPLE EVENTS. WE THE PEOPLE INCLUDES THE WORK OF THE WE THE PEOPLE: CIVICS THAT EMPOWERS ALL STUDENTS (CEAS) RESEARCH PROGRAM. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ADVANCE WE THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE 4TH-8TH GRADES AND IS THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM SPONSORED BY A RESEARCH GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO THE CENTER FOR CIVIC EDUCATION AND GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY.

PROJECT CITIZEN RESEARCH PROJECT THE PROJECT CITIZEN (ALSO CALLED PROJECT COMMUNITY) PROGRAM PLUS RESEARCH PROJECT IS A PUBLIC POLICY EDUCATION AND CIVIC SKILLS CURRICULUM. IT ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE IN COLLABORATIVE, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AS THEY WORK TOGETHER TO ANALYZE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY, DEVELOP POLICY PROPOSALS, ENGAGE IN CIVIC COMMUNICATION AND DIALOGUE, RESEARCH POLICIES, AND PRACTICE MEDIA LITERACY. STUDENTS IDENTIFY A PROBLEM IN THEIR COMMUNITY, RESEARCH ALTERNATIVE POLICY-BASED SOLUTIONS, DEVELOP A CLASS POLICY PROPOSAL TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, AND DESIGN A PLAN TO CONVINCE PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THE POLICY. PROGRAMS INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND SHOWCASES. THE PROJECT CITIZEN RESEARCH PROJECT IS THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM SPONSORED BY A RESEARCH GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO THE CENTER FOR CIVIC EDUCATION AND GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY.