Spotlight: Civic Learning Week 2026
Spotlight: Civic Learning Week
New York State Education Department Call for Submissions: Highlighting the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness for Civic Learning Week 2026
In March, the nation celebrates Civic Learning Week, an annual event dedicated to strengthening civic education and engagement across the country. Civic Learning Week provides an opportunity for students, educators, and communities to explore the role of civic education in sustaining our democracy. It will take place March 9-13, 2026.
Civic education is fundamental to preparing our students to be engaged and informed citizens in America’s democracy. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is committed to supporting schools and districts as they continue to provide high-quality civic education for all students in New York.
New York’s Seal of Civic Readiness is a formal recognition for high school graduates who demonstrate a deep understanding of civics, civic engagement, and active participation in their communities. The seal honors students’ civic knowledge and participation while preparing them for lifelong civic responsibility. Currently, 719 schools offer this crucial program, and 97,473 students have engaged in meaningful civic learning experiences that empower them to contribute positively to their communities. Through hands-on projects, community involvement, and classroom learning, these students are developing the skills and knowledge necessary for active citizenship.
Purpose:
The New York State Education Department seeks to showcase student-led Seal of Civic Readiness capstones and projects that highlight civic learning and engagement in honor of Civic Learning Week 2026. Through this call for submissions, NYSED aims to celebrate how students across New York State are deepening their role as active citizens in our democracy by demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and actions that define civic readiness.
By sharing examples of outstanding capstone projects and other civic learning experiences that New York State students are creating, NYSED hopes to commemorate Civic Learning Week by highlighting how schools are supporting students in earning the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness as they become informed, active contributors to their communities.
Types of Student Work to Submit:
- Link to videos or multimedia presentations
- Pictures of Artwork, displays, or exhibits
- Research papers, essays, or articles
- Digital portfolios or websites
- Project-based learning artifacts
How to Participate:
Districts, schools, and BOCES are invited to submit student work products for the Seal of Civic Readiness that highlight civic learning. Selected submissions will be featured on the NYSED website.
Guidelines for Submission:
- Each submission must include a brief description of the school, district, or BOCES (i.e. elementary, rural, size, etc.), and an explanation of the project and how it relates to the NYSED Civic Readiness Initiative (max 1 page).
- All entries should include contact information for the submitted teacher or staff member.
- All districts, schools, and BOCES are encouraged to participate.
- Typed descriptions should be no more than one page in length and submitted as an attached document to an email sent to P12StandardsInstruction@nysed.gov. Please use the subject line "Spotlight: Civic Learning Week".
- Text documents must be submitted in an editable word processor file format.
- Image files must be submitted as a png, jpg, or pdf file.
- Videos must be submitted as a viewable link.
- It is the responsibility of the entity submitting the work to ensure that there is compliance with all relevant copyright and privacy laws. Responsibility for obtaining any third-party permission(s) if necessary, rests with the entity submitting the work product.
- By submitting a work product to NYSED, you understand and acknowledge:
- That you have the right to submit the work product (you are the author, or you have the author’s permission and/or any other necessary third-party permissions);
- That you have permission from school/district/BOCES administration to submit a work product to NYSED for publication; and
- That you permit NYSED to publish the work product in various formats.
- NYSED retains the right to edit submissions for grammar, mechanics, and spelling. If significant editing of content is required, NYSED may correspond to submitter with a request for edits.
- Submissions should highlight student work which the Department will identify by grade, teacher, and school. NYSED encourages the inclusion of pictures and embedded videos of student work.
- Publication is not guaranteed. If your submission is published, you will receive notification via email.
- By submitting a work product to NYSED, you understand and acknowledge: