Democratic Knowledge Project

08/25/2026

🍂 Our fall 2026 course schedule is here! Join the Civic Learning Institute for engaging, affordable professional learning designed for educators and civic learning practitioners in classrooms, museums, and other learning settings.

These virtual courses:
- Are taught by academic experts from Harvard and beyond and coached by experienced educators
- Combine flexible asynchronous learning with live sessions where participants can exchange ideas, learn from one another, and engage directly with instructors
- Include a practical application assignment tailored to your own context
- Cost just $15!

Explore the fall schedule below, and register today: https://calendar.gse.harvard.edu/en/36YmkP6/g/z6MV5bTzv6

The Civic Learning Institute is an initiative of the Democratic Knowledge Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

07/01/2026

DKP Director of Curriculum Adrianne Billingham Bock spoke to CBS News this week as part of their piece on teaching the Declaration of Independence today. She shared our approach to teaching the Declaration, which highlights the key civic ideas about rights and the purpose of government in the text, as well as the guidance the document offers about what choices you have when a government isn't living up to its values or isn't doing what it's supposed to be doing.

Interested in learning more about teaching the Declaration? Join our upcoming professional learning course for just $15!

Read the article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/declaration-of-independence-education-social-media/

Join our course: cvent.me/mg7gmB

Educators are finding engaging ways to teach the Declaration of Independence on the 250th anniversary of its signing.

06/30/2026

With the Fourth of July and America’s 250th birthday just around the corner, how should we talk to children about patriotism at a time when many adults feel conflicted about it? DKP Director Danielle Allen recently sat down with Harvard Graduate School of Education's Ed. magazine to discuss this question and offer practical tips for educators and caregivers.

Read the interview here:

A conversation with Declaration of Independence expert Danielle Allen

05/18/2026

"So many feel anxiety and dread for the future of our country, yet I can confidently report that the kids are learning civics again. They are enjoying it, and for an increasing number, their lessons support pluralism, civic friendship and reflective patriotism outside the classroom. The future they will shape may feel distant, but I am confident that it will be bright."

Our director, Danielle Allen, has a powerful new op-ed out in the New York Times on the civic education movement and why, despite negative political headlines, there is real reason for hope.

She highlights how educators, policymakers, and community members across the country are:

- Rebuilding civic education after years of decline
- Teaching students how constitutional democracy works and how they can participate
- Cultivating reflective patriotism, civil disagreement, and civic friendship

We're thrilled to be part of this effort, and to collaborate with partners who share these commitments through the Educating for American Democracy initiative and CivxNow.

You can read Danielle’s full piece here:

The decline of civic education hit bottom about a decade ago and is at last on the rebound. This fact brings me hope.

04/30/2026

Educators across the U.S. continue to grapple with a shifting policy landscape and its implications for their classrooms and their learners.

ValuesinTeaching.org is designed to help teachers navigate challenging conversation and lead with their values, within and outside of the classroom. On the site, you can engage in values reflection exercises, walk through activities and explainers about navigating legal and policy risk in your learning environment, and learn strategies for having tough conversations with your learners and with other adults. The site has been recently updated to include new resources on community values and curricular adaptation decisions.

We are happy to have partnered with EdEthics and Project Zero on the Summer 2025 Create-a-Thon that led to the creation of these materials!

04/10/2026

Do you want to provide your students with more opportunities to do any of the following?
- Recognize the breadth of civic activity in their communities
- Focus on issues that matter to them and their communities
- Recognize and build their capacity as civic participants
- Gain a more complex understanding of a civic issue
- Understand that compromise is often necessary and consider what goes into making a principled compromise
- Build confidence that change is possible
- Connect abstract concepts like justice and power to actual, real life examples

In our upcoming online workshop, Deepening Civic Learning through Community Connections, we'll be exploring how engaging with your broader community can create powerful civic learning opportunities for students like those listed above. We hope you'll join us!

📌 Wednesday, April 15
🕢 7:30-9 PM ET
💲 $10
🔗 Register here: https://cvent.me/mg7gmB

This workshop is part of the Civic Learning Institute, an initiative of the Democratic Knowledge Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education