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Programs
James Madison Legacy Project (3)
Civics and Government Teachers!
The Michigan Center for Civic Education invites you to join a premier group of secondary teachers in a professional learning opportunity focused on the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program. MCCE was awarded funding by the Center for Civic Education through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED). The grant supports professional development to qualifying Michigan Teachers.
The James Madison Legacy Project (JMLP) will provide you opportunities to:
● learn with Constitutional scholars,
● enhance student-centered teaching and learning,
● receive a classroom set of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution instructional resources valued over $400 plus online resources,
● receive $500 stipend upon full participation plus travel stipends, lodging, meals, and substitute reimbursement,
● earn SCECH or graduate credit (for a fee),
● contribute to meaningful research on best practices in civic education. and
● collaborate with experienced mentor teachers.
In exchange, you will be asked to:
● infuse a minimum of 40 hours of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum and instruction into your designated classes,
● participate in our Professional Learning Community, an online discussion of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum and instruction,
● invite MCCE staff and mentor teachers to observe and support classroom instruction and curriculum,
● take a teacher knowledge pre and post-test,
● administer student knowledge pre- and post- test to the same group of students,
● involve students in the curricular culminating activity: simulated congressional hearing(s), and
● collect, provide, and share data from classes or students (consistent with the IRB process).
If accepted, you will join Michigan JMLP Cohort 3, a federally funded research and learning initiative. The Project is designed to measure both the impact the professional learning and curriculum has for teachers and the impact the program has on student learning and political efficacy, especially in high-need student populations.
Important Program Dates
• Summer Institute: July 23-28, 2017 - Lansing, MI
• November 16-17, 2017 - Grand Rapids, MI
• January 11-12, 2018 - Lansing, MI
*Exact agenda for November 16 and January 11 is in development so as to minimize the days teachers need to be out of the classroom.
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Content Focus
Unit 1: What are the Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System?
Unit 2: How did the Framers Create the Constitution?
Unit 3: How has the Constitution been Changed to Further the Ideals Contained in the Declaration of Independence?
Unit 4: How have the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped American Institutions and Practices?
Unit 5: What Rights does the Bill of Rights Protect?
Unit 6: What Challenges might Face American Constitutional Democracy in the Twenty-First Century?
Click here for JMLP Cohort 3 Registration Flyer
Click here for the JMPL Cohort 3 FAQ
Click here for JMLP Cohort 3 Application Form
For additional information, please contact the Michigan Center for Civic Education at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Or, call Ellen Zwarensteyn, MCCE Professional Learning Coordinator at 248-321-4842.
Information about Michigan JMLP Cohort 2 is available here.
Information about Michigan JMLP Cohort 1 is available here.
Project Citizen (3)
The Michigan Center for Civic Education is dedicated to conducting programs that give students the opportunity to practice the skills of citizenship.
Project Citizen is one of those programs.
Thanks to a grant from the Michigan Department of Education MCCE can once again bring Project Citizen Workshops to Michigan teachers.
What is Project Citizen? Project Citizen is a program for upper elementary, middle, secondary, post-secondary students, and youth organizations, that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. Students work together to identify a problem, study policy issues related to the problem, develop a solution to the problem, and create an action plan for implementing their policy. In a culminating activity, students present in a simulated legislative hearing, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of how public policy is formulated.
How can I get involved?
MCCE will be conducting three workshops during the 2016-2017 school year.
Participating in one of our workshops will provide critical foundational learning to bring Project Citizen to life in the classroom. Participants will receive content from public policy experts; connections with local public policy makers; and proven and effective teaching strategies.
Teachers who attend and implement Project Citizen will receive:
• A FREE classroom set of materials;
• A stipend for completing the training (if held after school hours) or substitute reimbursement;
• Additional financial support for participation in a student showcase;
• Ongoing instructional and curricular support;
• SCECH credits;
• A great community of teachers;
Two of the three sites are confirmed and will focus on Project Citizen at the secondary level. The third site will be in west/northern Michigan. Check back for more information.
Saturday, October 22, 2016, 8:30 am-2:30 p.m.
Wayne RESA, Wayne, MI
Contact David Hales at
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to inquire about openings.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Genesee ISD, Flint, MI;
Energy conservation, vending machines in schools, childhood obesity—these are just a sampling of the public policy issues that Michigan students have tackled as part of their involvement in Project Citizen.
Project Citizen is a way to get students actively engaged in solving real life problems. Project Citizen connects students with members of the community who deal with community issues in real life.
Project Citizen involves a five step process:
- Identifying a problem in their community
- Gathering and evaluating information on the problem
- Examining and evaluation solutions
- Selecting or developing a proposed public policy solution
- Developing an Action Plan
To learn more about how to involve your class in Project Citizen, contact us.
Correlation of Project Citizen to Michigan's Grade Level Content Expectations (PDF, 115 KB)
Past participants and projects
James Madison Legacy Program - Cohort 2
Project Citizen (4)
TEST
Energy conservation, vending machines in schools, childhood obesity—these are just a sampling of the public policy issues that Michigan students have tackled as part of their involvement in Project Citizen.
Project Citizen is a program for upper elementary, middle, secondary, post-secondary students, and youth organizations, that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. Students work together to identify a problem, study policy issues related to the problem, develop a solution to the problem, and create an action plan for implementing their policy. In a culminating activity, students present in a simulated legislative hearing, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of how public policy is formulated.
Project Citizen is a way to get students actively engaged in solving real life problems. Project Citizen connects students with members of the community who deal with community issues in real life.
Project Citizen involves a five step process:
- Identifying a problem in their community
- Gathering and evaluating information on the problem
- Examining and evaluation solutions
- Selecting or developing a proposed public policy solution
- Developing an Action Plan
To learn more about how to involve your class in Project Citizen, contact us.
Correlation of Project Citizen to Michigan's Grade Level Content Expectations (PDF, 115 KB)
Past participants and projects
James Madison Legacy Program copy 042216
Secondary Social Studies teachers looking for a new, effective way to teach the foundations of our government, the Constitution, and Bill of Rights need look no further!
The Michigan Center for Civic Education (MCCE) has been awarded funding through the Center for Civic Education and the U.S. Department of Education to provide professional development through the James Madison Legacy Project*.
MCCE is inviting secondary Social Studies educators to apply for a professional development opportunity designed to train teachers how to best utilize the newly updated We The People...The Citizen & the Constitution instructional materials. With the guidance of experienced scholars and mentor teachers, participants will leave with an understanding of the instructional resources and the effective, performance based instructional practices on which they are based.
Although open to all Michigan secondary teachers, priority will be given to teachers in schools with significant concentrations of high needs students.
TEACHERS WILL RECEIVE
- Classroom set of the newly revised We the People Instructional Resource (middle or high school) or Classroom set of We the People e-resource; value over $400.
- $500 stipend
- Content from constitutional scholars and teaching strategies by mentor teachers
- Travel stipends, substitute reimbursement, lodging, meals
- Opportunity to be a part of a supportive, collaborative learning community
- SCECH Credit (pending)
- Content aligned with both current and proposed High School Content Expectations.
Details
- January 7, 5:30-8:30, Lansing (Lodging provided). Kick off meeting
- January 8, 9:00-4:00, Michigan State Capitol Complex. Starting with the end in mind with an experiential learning opportunity during the Michigan We The People State Finals.
- January/February-On your own. Review Units 1-3* of the We the People resources.
- February 6, 9:00-3:00, Location TBD
- February/March- On your own. Review Units 4-6* of the We the People curriculum.
- March 12, 9:00-3:00, Location TBD
REQUIREMENTS
- Attend all professional development days and complete self-study assignments which will require about 12 hours.
- Participate in SEED Research by completing pre and post assessments about your experience.
- Commit to infusing We The People resources and strategies in classroom instruction during the spring 2016 and/or Fall 2016
Questions? Contact us at
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or 517-367-6422
Click here for the James Madison Legacy Project Announcement
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED FOR COHORT 1, YEAR 1. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR YEAR 2, COHORT 2.
Click here for James Madison Legacy Program Registration Form
* The James Madison Legacy Project is made possible by a generous grant from the U.S. Department of Education through the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program. The grant was awarded to the Center for Civic Education (CCE), Calabasas, CA in Oct.2015. The Michigan Center for Civic Education was selected to implement this program in Michigan.
*We the People Content Focus
Unit 1: What are the Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System?
Unit 2: How did the Framers Create the Constitution?
Unit 3: How has the Constitution been Changed to Further the Ideals Contained in the Declaration of Independence?
Unit 4: How have the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped American Institutions and Practices?
Unit 5: What Rights does the Bill of Rights Protect?
Unit 6: What Challenges might face Americans Constitutional Democracy in the Twenty-First Century?
For more information
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Our programs depend on the willingness of lawyers, judges, police officers, elected officials, school administrators and parents to be successful. Volunteers are needed to work with teachers in the classroom, to judge competitions, and to share their expertise in training opportunities and the development of materials.
You are needed and welcome!
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MCCE’s Resources, Programs, & Lessons
Educating for Citizenship
Educating for Citizenship is a conference for educators and community members that highlights best practices in law-related and civic education in Michigan and nationally.
Civic Education Teacher of the Year Award
Mock Trial
A Mock Trial is designed to reenact much of what might take place in a trial court. Students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses and compete against each other in real courtrooms in front of real judges and lawyers.
"[A] unique opportunity for young people to learn about the legal system..."
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