Wisconsin Civic Learning Coalition

Webinar: Teach the Declaration's Global Impact Using Media and Artifacts
2026-03-25 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual
Join PBS LearningMedia and the Museum of the American Revolution as we share new classroom resources for teaching the lasting influence of the American Revolution. Participants will explore how the Declaration of Independence’s impact extends beyond 1776 and the United States and continues to inspire global citizens today.
PBS LearningMedia will investigate the importance of the Declaration of Independence in the Revolutionary Era through the Ken Burns in the Classroom The American Revolution Collection, followed by a walkthrough of the Museum of the American Revolution’s new exhibit, The Declaration’s Journey, and a discussion of the Declaration’s global impact. You will leave with a deeper understanding of the consequences and legacies of the Revolutionary Era and ideas for sparking curiosity within your students as they connect the past to the present.
If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your junk folder. If you have any questions or issues with registration, please send an email to learningmediamktg@pbs.org.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Monthly Meeting of the Wisconsin Civic Learning Coalition
2026-03-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-20 10:00 - 11:00
These meetings are open to all WCLC members, and are meant as an opportunity to connect with others who are invested in strengthening civic learning in the state. Each meeting will include time in small groups for connection and planning. Meetings take place at 10am on the 3rd Friday of each month.
Joining the WCLC is free and open to the public!
We will send you the links to attend if you fill out this form, and join the coalition as an individual or as an organizational member. If you join as an organizational member, we will highlight your information as a partner of the WCLC.
Click Here to return to the WCLC website

Workshop - Teaching Elementary Students to Have Effective Discussions
2026-03-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual
Engaging productively in discussion is an important social-emotional skill, essential in community life and civic participation. In this workshop you will practice easy-to-use strategies that help students learn and internalize discussion skills. Together, we will identify scaffolds that increase engagement and participation in discussion for all students. You will leave with new ideas for helping students use discussion to learn and contribute to their communities.
Note: All workshops times are in US Eastern time zone. Workshops are not recorded, and participants must join live in order to be counted for attendance. Participants who complete a workshop receive a certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

2026 WCLC Civic Education Briefing Day
2026-03-13 11:30 - 15:30 | Wisconsin Capitol, 2 E Main St, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, United States
Join us in Madison on March 13th, 2026 to help us make the case to legislators, their staff, and other government officials that strengthening civic learning should be a priority in our state. We’ll provide printed materials, and a short orientation before we head out in pairs to legislative offices. Please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch to share more details prior to the event.
*** If you can’t join us but would like to connect with your legislator, please indicate during registration.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

WCSS Annual Conference
2026-03-13 - 2026-03-14 | Madison Concourse Hotel, Madison, WI
WCSS 26: EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S VOICES!
What to Expect at WCSS 26:

Inspiring keynote speakers – Will Snowden and Richard Josey
Hands-on, classroom-ready workshops
Engaging presentations from fellow educators
New strategies, resources, and ideas you can use immediately
An exhibit hall full of vendors and organizations that support great teaching
Connection with a community of educators who care deeply about social studies
A ton of fun! Beacon in Madison, Social Hour, Family Game Night, some contests, and more!

Learn more HERE
Register HERE

In-Person Teacher Workshop with Concordia University &Economics Wisconsin
2026-03-12 08:00 - 16:00 | Madison Concourse Hotel, Madison, WI
2026 Economic Episodes In American History, Civics and Government

This year, we are combining practical instruction and examples from the Economic Episodes in American History and Economic Episodes in Civics and American Government textbooks into one workshop. Textbook authors, Dr. Scott Niederjohn and Dr. Mark Schug, will conduct this workshop designed to help teachers offer historical and civics understanding to their students using the lens of economics.

Attendance Includes:
• $200 travel stipend (when you attend the workshop in full).
• One copy of each textbook and a classroom set of the textbooks (mailed to you)
• Light breakfast and lunch provided
A $50 fee is required to secure your seat. Full refund is available when you complete the workshop.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Sowing Change Workshop: The Delano Grape Strike & Boycott
2026-03-11 09:00 - 15:00 | Erikson Institute, 451 N. La Salle, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
This workshop will introduce 6th-12th grade humanities teachers to Facing History’s new unit, Sowing Change Inquiry: The Delano Grape Strike and Boycott. While leaders play an important role in the success of social movements, the collective efforts behind social change are often overlooked. Understanding the history of the California farm worker movement that emerged during the Delano grape strike (1965-1970) helps students reflect on the power of collective action and interethnic solidarity—as was demonstrated by Mexican and Filipino laborers—in enacting transformative social change.
This event will occur in-person at the Erikson Institute.
Address: 451 N. La Salle Chicago, IL 60654

Conversation with Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
2026-03-11 07:00 - 08:00 | Virtual
Students and teachers join Justice Sotomayor in a discussion about civic education and the Civic Learning Week 2026 theme Liberty and Learning: Civic Education at 250. Recording released and available for viewing beginning 8:00 AM Eastern on Wednesday, March 11th.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Sonia Sotomayor
Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States

Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, was born in Bronx, New York, on June 25, 1954. She earned a B.A. in 1976 from Princeton University, graduating summa cum laude and a member of Phi Beta Kappa and receiving the Pyne Prize, the highest academic honor Princeton awards to an undergraduate. In 1979, she earned a J.D. from Yale Law School where she served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. She served as Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 1979–1984. She then litigated international commercial matters in New York City at Pavia & Harcourt, where she served as an associate and then partner from 1984–1992. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated her to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, and she served in that role from 1992–1998. In 1997, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit where she served from 1998–2009. President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on May 26, 2009, and she assumed this role August 8, 2009.

Legislative Semester Information Sessions (1 hour on Zoom)
2026-03-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Are you looking for a way to engage your students more deeply in learning about American democracy and help them build skills for a lifetime of civic engagement? The Legislative Semester is an experiential, project based approach to teaching civics and government where students create a legislature in their school and immerse themselves in democratic decision making. It is built on core principles of authenticity, relevance, student agency, and teacher neutrality. Join experienced teachers for a short information session about the Legislative Semester curriculum, and learn more about the next steps for adopting this research-based, engaging, experiential curriculum.

March 10th Registration Link (4pm-5pm Central Time)

Contact Kate Ullman with questions: kate@legislativesemester.org

Legislative Semester Information Sessions (1 hour on Zoom)
2026-03-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Are you looking for a way to engage your students more deeply in learning about American democracy and help them build skills for a lifetime of civic engagement? The Legislative Semester is an experiential, project based approach to teaching civics and government where students create a legislature in their school and immerse themselves in democratic decision making. It is built on core principles of authenticity, relevance, student agency, and teacher neutrality. Join experienced teachers for a short information session about the Legislative Semester curriculum, and learn more about the next steps for adopting this research-based, engaging, experiential curriculum.

March 9th Registration Link (4pm-5pm Central Time)
March 10th Registration Link (4pm-5pm Central Time)

Contact Kate Ullman with questions: kate@legislativesemester.org

Livestream: Civic Learning Week National Forum
2026-03-09 - 2026-03-10
You can tune into the live stream from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday, March 9th and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 10th or watch the replay on-demand.
View the Schedule of Events for more information on the program and featured speakers.
Register below to receive the link to the livestream and join the conversation online #CivicLearningWeek @NationalCLW.

In Person Seminar - America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-03-07 08:30 - 14:15 | Vel Phillips Middle School, 1401 Kentucky St, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 54901
Oshkosh, WI
Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. both argued that the proper foundation for civic education is the belief that America has a moral essence derived from the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and that America’s history and purpose—its past, present, and future—is the story of our struggle to live up to those principles. In this seminar, we will read three documents–the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and the “I Have a Dream” Speech”– that demonstrate that an American is not just a citizen or an abstract concept, but a certain kind of human being, a person whose mind and heart have been profoundly shaped by the principles contained in the Declaration, especially the truth of the proposition that all men are created equal. That understanding of an American still resonates with teachers, students, and citizens today, 250 years after Thomas Jefferson first wrote the words that made America: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal.”
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance

Panel: Election Matters 2026: The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting (In Person AND Virtual)
2026-03-06 15:00 - 16:15
The State Democracy Research Initiative and the Elections Research Center at UW-Madison invite you to join us for an Election Matters 2026 Panel, “The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting,” sponsored by Stafford Rosenbaum LLP. This panel will take place on Friday, March 6 from 3:00-4:15pm Central Time, with a reception to follow. This event will take place in-person in Lubar Commons (room 7200) of the University of Wisconsin Law School (975 Bascom Mall), with the option to attend virtually. This panel has been approved for 1.5 Wisconsin CLE credits.
The panel will provide an update on mid-decade redistricting efforts and situate these recent developments within the context of broader legal debates about gerrymandering. Our panelists will include Michael Li (Brennan Center for Justice), Sara Sadhwani (Pomona College), and Nicholas Stephanopoulos (Harvard Law School), with SDRI faculty co-director Rob Yablon moderating.

This panel is approved for 1.5 WI CLE credits.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

We the People: National Symposium on Civic Education Research
2026-03-06 - 2026-03-07 | Washington, DC
The Center for Civic Education and the Civic Education Research Lab (CERL) invite you to join leaders from across the nation for a pivotal gathering at the intersection of research, practice, and policy. The We the People: National Symposium on Civic Education Research will take place in Washington, D.C. on March 6-7, 2026.

Together we will:

Examine and amplify new outcomes from civic education innovation and research programs
Discuss the implications of this research on policy and practice
Explore how high-quality, evidence-based civic education strengthens schools and communities

The Importance of Civic Education Has Never Been Greater

Why It Matters So Much
This event culminates three years of civic education innovation and research in collaboration with state partners across the country under the James Madison Legacy Project Expansion Program which demonstrates measurable gains for all learners—especially for students with disabilities, English language learners, and other groups who have been historically underresourced.
At a time when generational civic learning gaps threaten the health of our democracy, these findings will serve as a jumping off point for a national conversation. This symposium is an opportunity for the entire civic education field—educators, policymakers, researchers, nonprofit leaders, and advocates—to come together and ask:

How can we translate this evidence into concrete action and broader support for civic learning at every level?
What strategies will ensure meaningful access to high-quality civic education for every student in every community?
How can research and evidence drive policy change and sustainable investment in civic education?

Who Should Attend
This two-day symposium will bring together a diverse group of participants, including:

School leaders
State and national civic education providers
State and district policy makers
Civic education researchers
Civics coalition leaders
Field scholars
K-16 educators

What to Expect

Compelling evidence for transformational civic education and rigorous program evaluations presented by leading scholars
Real-world stories from classrooms and communities where We the People and other civic education programs have transformed outcomes
Collaboration and action-planning on policy, practice, and advocacy strategies that build on this evidence
Networking with leaders shaping the next chapter of civic education in policy and practice

LEARN MORE HERE

In Person Convention - Wisconsin Newspaper Association
2026-03-05 - 2026-03-06
The 2026 WNA Annual Convention will take place March 5-6 at the Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club in Madison.
The annual convention brings together the state’s news leaders, Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame members, and future journalists from Wisconsin high schools and colleges/universities to explore questions shaping the future of the industry. It will feature in-depth workshops, networking opportunities, listening sessions, interactive panels and more. Learn more about session speakers here and review the convention schedule here.
You can also become a WNA 2026 Convention sponsor! The WNA Convention draws hundreds of newspaper professionals from across the state who gather to network with peers, vendors and sponsors while attending educational sessions and celebrating industry accomplishments. Sign up as a sponsor – if you have questions contact the WNA.

In Person Workshop: Facing History’s Approach to Middle School ELA
2026-03-04 09:00 - 15:00 | Chicago, IL
Middle school ELA educators are invited to an in-depth workshop covering the unique offerings within our English Language Arts collections, including support around common instructional formats such as text sets, whole-class reads, and book clubs. Participants will leave with classroom-ready materials and be immersed in engaging activities from our two modular collections: Coming of Age in a Complex World and Borders and Belonging.
Participants will:

Gain an overview of Facing History’s ELA resources
Develop the mindset and tools to build an ELA course that invites perspective taking and ethical reflection and expands students’ critical thinking skills
Experience new teaching strategies to engage students more deeply on the complexities of identity and belonging

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Virtual PD - Unsung Heroines of the American Revolution: A Collaboration Between Sphere and the Prohuman Foundation
2026-03-03 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, many of us think about the heroic figures who formed the foundation of our democracy. The Prohuman Foundation and Sphere Education Initiatives are excited to support you in thinking about these brave Americans by highlighting five unsung heroines who greatly influenced America’s Founding: Elizabeth Freeman, Anna Smith Strong, Nanyehi (Nancy Ward), Deborah Sampson, and Esther de Berdt Reed. During this webinar, we will dive deep into five lessons that encourage students to discover character strengths such as curiosity, courage, humanity, grit, and compassion while developing key skills in literacy and civil discourse. You will hear from the Prohuman Foundation and Sphere about the various ways to engage with these women’s stories in helping your students learn to recognize their own capacities for developing character strengths in their own lives.
The webinar will consist of two parts. The first part will include a conversation between the Prohuman Foundation and Sphere to set the stage for understanding the unique opportunities presented by this collaborative effort. The second part will include deeper dives into the lessons themselves and the practical, tangible tools that can be applied in secondary classrooms. Educators will be empowered to use these resources to help their students develop a growth mindset, cultivate positive connections, engage in civil discourse, and respect viewpoint diversity.
Attendees will leave with tangible, practical tools and content ready for classroom application, as well as the confidence to implement these unique lessons in their schools.

This session will be presented via Zoom.
All Sphere alumni and interested educators for grades 5–12 are eligible to attend.
Attendees will earn professional development credit.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Webinar: Stories of Civil Disobedience
2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
In Partnership with The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg.
How do we define “civil disobedience?” Are disobedience and defiance the same thing? Join Dr. Kelly Brennan, Colonial Williamsburg Historian, to examine how stories throughout history complicate our understanding of civil disobedience. Then, join educators with the Center for Civic Education and the Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg to discuss how to apply this content in your classroom.
Participants will receive 1.5 professional development hours for attending this session. For more information, please contact teacherdevelopment@cwf.org.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND LEARN MORE

2026 Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association Conference
2026-03-01 - 2026-03-03

Symposium at UW-Eau Claire on the Foundations of the First Amendment
2026-02-28 09:00 - 15:00
The Jack Miller Center is partnering with the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship & Civil Dialogue on a one-day symposium for Wisconsin social studies teachers at the Menard Center for Constitutional Studies at UW-Eau Claire.
This symposium will address the freedoms of expression and religion in the Colonial and Revolutionary Eras, before the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Participants will examine protections for speech and the press in state constitutions, as well as the trial of John Peter Zenger and the writings of William Blackstone. The symposium will also cover the early legal history of the free exercise of religion and precursors to the Establishment Clause.
UW-Eau Claire professors Eric Kasper and Adam Kunz will lead primary source discussions on these topics, and JMC Teacher Programs Manager Emilee McHorney will lead a classroom application session about teaching primary texts, including those covered by the scholars, in K-12 classroom settings.
Participants will receive a $250 stipend for completion of the symposium. The program will run from 9 am to 3 pm at Centennial Hall on UW-Eau Claire’s campus.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Emilee McHorney at emchorney@gojmc.org.

🎉Public School Week: Friday Day of Action at the Capitol
2026-02-27 11:30 - 13:00 | Wisconsin Capitol, 2 E Main St, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, United States
Let lawmakers know you’re counting on them to support our students & thriving public schools! Local kids need YOU to come to Madison to help close out Public Schools Week with a clear message: we love our public schools and our kids are counting on us to demand and deliver the resources they need to thrive!
Join us to celebrate Public Schools Week by standing up for the public schools our students deserve! Gather at 11:30, event begins at noon in the rotunda. Bring referendum yard signs (no sticks), “valentines” for lawmakers sharing reasons you love your public schools, and your friends! It’s time to send a message to the state that we are HERE for our public schools and fully expect the state legislature to do what’s right for Wisconsin students! Participants are strongly encouraged to use this opportunity to schedule 1:1 meetings with their elected officials (at home or in the Capitol) as well. Invite them to come talk to your group! Click here to see the full toolkit with ideas and templates for celebrating Public Schools Week: https://www.wisconsinnetwork.org/news/public-schools-week-2026

🎉Public Schools Week: Celebrate Student Success
2026-02-26 18:30 - 20:00
Calling all students!
Share stories about the amazing things local kids in your public schools are doing!
Register for THE POWER OF STUDENT ACTION, a special event intended for (and organized by) high school students and adults who directly support their organizing efforts, and learn more about how to get organized to join the fight for thriving public schools for all students!

🎉Public Schools Week: Support Public School Champions
2026-02-25 08:00 - 17:00
Centering local action in the heart of public schools week. Take time today to show local advocates you support their relentless advocacy for Wisconsin students and their public schools!
Spread the love: donate now to ensure that we can grow our support for the advocates who support students year-round. Your support makes our work possible!

🎉Public Schools Week: Transparency Tuesday Spotlight on public accountability
2026-02-24
Transparency Tuesday is all about holding ourselves, our schools and our leaders accountable for the conditions kids need to thrive! Public schools are the cornerstone of democracy! Celebrate the ways public schools center student safety and belonging and are held accountable to all of us. Public Schools Week is a great reminder that all schools that receive public funds should be subject to the same high standards of accountability and transparency as public schools. Check out our GO PUBLIC! Voucher and Independent Charter Transparency Hub to learn more.

🎉Celebrate Public Schools Week🎉
2026-02-23 - 2026-02-27
Dear Wisconsin public school champions,
Public Schools Week is a time for celebration, appreciation, & action–and it’s never been more important to take time to do all three! We challenge you to commit to taking action during Public Schools Week, February 23-27. Learn more below!
Our Public Schools Week 2026 toolkit contains ideas for taking action each day of Public Schools Week 2026, but you don’t have to wait until the end of the month to get started! Plan your week around the themed actions we have scheduled for each day below, or create your own local agenda and let us know what you have planned!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

🎉Public Schools Week: Monday - Spread the love for public schools and celebrate our amazing educators!
2026-02-23
Celebrate #PublicSchoolsWeek by sharing the reasons YOU support your local public schools. Shout out educators. Share a story of something amazing happening in your district. Tell others why you think public schools are worth fighting for. Let people know why you support local action for strong public schools with a post on social media or better yet a short video and #MakeItLocal and tag your friends/teachers/district and us @WisconsinNetwork (Facebook) @WiscEdNetwork so we can amplify your impact!

UPDATE YOUR PROFILE PIC using our template to spread the love for our public schools!

Click this link to our Canva template
Upload or drag your favorite picture of yourself (centered and smiling and not too close-up is best). When you drag and hover your photo over the round “frame,” it should drop right in – if it lands as a rectangle just click delete and try again)
Click “share” to download the file and save as a jpg file
Upload to your socials as your profile pic Feb. 23-27 and share!
Too much work? Don’t have Canva? Send us your photo and we’ll whip one up for you.

Wisconsin Head Start Association’s 24th Annual Training Conference
2026-02-23 - 2026-02-25
Be the Gift: Rooted in Purpose, Growing the Future in Head Start
This three-day event brings together the entire early childhood community—from Head Start and Early Head Start staff to parents, families, and child care providers. Whether you’re a birth-to-three professional, home visitor, ECE student or educator, or work with tribal and migrant programs, you’ll find sessions designed for you. Healthcare and social service partners, state agencies, and CCR&R professionals are also essential voices in this gathering.
Together, we’ll strengthen our shared commitment to Wisconsin’s youngest learners and the families we serve. to your important work feeling inspired and equipped with new tools to serve Wisconsin’s children and families. This conference offers professional development designed specifically for those who believe every child deserves the best possible start in life.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Webinar: AI and Digital Literacy in the Classroom
2026-02-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual
Join WCSS and the International non-profit SOUK on February 18th for a webinar training on how to foster digital citizenship in the classroom. The training focuses on tools to help youth develop media and political literacy and promote active participation in their communities. This WDPI vetted training and toolkit is a unique opportunity for Wisconsin educators to learn how to combat AI and online misinformation, develop digital learning plans, and encourage civic engagement.
Register HERE

Webinar: Inside the Civic Classroom: Lessons from Award-Winning Civic Educators
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Virtual
An American Civic Education Teacher Awards Webinar

Inside the Civic Classroom: Lessons from Award-Winning Civic Educators

February 18, 2026 • 7:00-8:30 pm EST

Join this dynamic session to see what great civic teaching looks like in action. The winners of the American Civic Education Teacher Awards (ACETA) will open their classrooms to you—sharing model lessons, instructional strategies, and practical insights from their own experience. Learn how these exceptional educators build student voice, foster engagement, and bring civic content to life through hands-on, inquiry-driven practice. Walk away with replicable strategies you can use right away.

REGISTER HERE

The Center for Civic Education
The Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy in the United States and other countries. The Center’s programs are designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to be informed and engaged citizens.
