GENERATION CITIZEN INC

Guides students in reflecting on their civic impact and evolving role in democracy during and after completing civic action projects.

Advances equity in civic learning by engaging diverse voices from civil rights, democracy, and education organizations, with intentional emphasis on youth and educator perspectives in shaping culturally relevant democracy education.

Guides students in developing and advocating for civic action projects that address real community issues, including drafting legislation, conducting letter-writing campaigns, and meeting with elected officials. Examples include advocating for mental health curricula in Rhode Island, drug rehabilitation pilot programs in Oklahoma, and net metering incentives in Texas.

Advocates for increased public investments in civic education and supports state-based coalitions to advance policy change. Shares stories of students, teachers, and communities to promote the value of civic learning and foster a responsive civics education ecosystem.

Partners with middle and high schools and school districts to implement a year-long, project-based civics curriculum that engages over 25,000 students annually in more than 150 schools across eight states. Students gain hands-on experience in civic action, including researching community issues and advocating for policy solutions.

Students participating in the program experience a 63% gain in social studies learning and a 23% gain in informational reading, equivalent to five to six and two additional months of learning, respectively. Participation also increases overall academic engagement in non-Generation Citizen classes.

Organizes semester-end Civics Day events where students present their community-based civics projects to peers, community members, business leaders, alumni, public officials, and educators. These events facilitate intergenerational dialogue and recognize student civic leadership.

Develops and disseminates research reports, resources, and toolkits for educators, policymakers, and community leaders to support equitable civic learning at district and state levels.

Offers year-long fellowship programs that give students hands-on experience in state-level civics policy development and advocacy.

Awards the Student Changemaker award to high school students who demonstrate exceptional leadership in civic action projects, such as those addressing gun violence prevention, during Civics Day events.

Highlights youth-led change and program outcomes through a public blog that shares stories of student, teacher, and community impact.

Increases teacher confidence and effectiveness in delivering project-based learning and supporting student engagement with state and local government. Teachers are three times more likely to report confidence in project-based learning and twice as likely in supporting civic engagement and community connections. 89% report increased job satisfaction after implementing the program.