How can we help our youngest students understand their communities, their government, and their rights and responsibilities as active citizens?
Funded in whole by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Civics Education for Connecticut Students Project supports civics education by reducing barriers to specific programs at local museums for Connecticut’s elementary school students. This early introduction to civics helps young learners grasp key concepts like community, citizenship, democratic and civic engagement with hands-on, place-based, experiential learning.
What does this mean for schools?
Fee reductions and bus support to civics programs for students in grades K-5 are available at the following museums:
All Connecticut students can participate in the following museum programs at the cost of $2 per student for museum field trips or $50 per program for in-classroom outreach programs or virtual programs.
Schools in Priority Districts and schools receiving any Title I funds can participate in the same field trips and classroom programs for FREE!
To schedule one of these programs please call or email the specific museum that you are interested in booking a program at. The discounted price will be applied at the time of booking. Additional fee reductions may also be available, please inquire when booking.
Bus support is available for schools participating in any of these civics programs. Bus reimbursements are available to all Priority and Title I schools up to $350 per bus and for all other schools up to $100 per bus. Museums may have additional bus support available, please inquire at the time of booking.
Schools interested in bus support will need to complete a request form and submit their bus invoice in order to receive reimbursement. Please inquire when you are booking your museum program and the museum staff will send you the form.
Partnership with the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies
These funds from the U.S. Department of Education also support partnerships between museums and classroom teachers. The Connecticut Council for the Social Studies is working on matching museums with classroom teachers to co-develop civics content for teachers to use in their classroom as well as customized museum field trips. For more information about this initiative please contact Jenny (JHD) Heikkila Díaz, CCSS Professional Learning Coordinator, at jennyhd@gmail.com.
Support for Connecticut Democracy Center’s Kid GovernorⓇ program
Funds are also supporting the Connecticut Democracy Center’s Kid Governor program with bus support for the two-day election bus rally across the state as well as support for Inauguration Day events. These events serve 5th grade students statewide. For more information about the Kid Governor program please contact Brian Cofrancesco, Director of Kid Governor, at brian.cofrancesco@cga.ct.gov.
View the informational brochure below!
