About Us

What We Do

The Center for Civic Education helps students develop (1) an increased understanding of the institutions of constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded, (2) the skills necessary to participate as competent and responsible citizens, and (3) the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict. Ultimately, the Center strives to develop an enlightened citizenry by working to increase understanding of the principles, values, institutions, and history of constitutional democracy among teachers, students, and the general public.

To fulfill this mission, the Center develops high-quality curricular materials, provides exceptional professional development for teachers, and advocates for stronger civic education in the United States and emerging democracies.

Annual Report

Civics Curriculum

The Center provides research-backed curricular programs that have been trusted by teachers for decades. Our primary curricular programs are We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution and Project Citizen.

Professional Development

The Center for Civic Education offers high-quality professional development through its state partners, national events funded by federal grants, self-guided online courses, and webinars.

Network of Educators

The Center partners with a network of 50 state programs. These state programs conduct local teacher professional development and organize local and state simulated congressional hearings for students, impacting thousands of teachers and students each year.

Mission Statement

The Center is 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.

Newsroom

Newsletters

Press Releases

Featured Videos

Media Inquiries
818-591-9321
cce@civiced.org

For information on the Center's programs
Interviews with experts on the Constitution, civic education, public policy, and emerging democracies
Referrals to classroom civic teachers

Board of Directors

Pauline WeaverPresident

Pauline Weaver has dedicated her professional career to the law and to legal and civic education. She currently serves as the secretary of the American Bar Association. Previously, she led ... [read more]

Prof. Jonathan D. VaratVice President

Jonathan Varat is a professor of law emeritus and dean emeritus of the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law. At UCLA, Mr. Varat has taught Constitutional Law ... [read more]

Clara SlifkinSecretary

Clara Slifkin has practiced criminal, civil, and administrative law in state, federal, and administrative courts in her four decades as an attorney in California ... [read more]

The Center for Civic Education partners with a network of 50 state civics, government, and law programs sponsored by state bar associations and foundations, colleges and universities, and other civic and law non-profit organizations to promote teaching and learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. These state programs conduct local teacher professional development, hold conferences and organize local and state simulated congressional hearings for elementary and secondary students. Each year these state programs impact thousands of teachers and tens of thousands of students. If you would like to know more about your state program click on the map.

National Advisory Council

The Center for Civic Education's National Advisory Council provides insight to Center leadership and staff on strategic issues facing the organization, which includes advice on programming, communications and long-term planning in the national civic and constitutional education space.

Read more about the Center's National Advisory Council ->

Together, the state bar and the UCLA committee created an executive committee for the Law in a Free Society Program composed of leading scholars, educators, and members of the legal profession. In 1981, this committee became the board of directors of what is now known as the Center for Civic Education. Founding members of the board made significant contributions to the development and expansion of the Center’s programs, which are now implemented in every state and in eighty-two other countries.

Read more about the Center's Founders ->

Meet our Staff

Christopher R. Riano
President

Christopher R. Riano is the president of the Center for Civic Education, the nation's largest constitutional law and civic education nonprofit dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry both in America and ... [read more]

John ThurmanVice President & Chief Operating and Financial Officer

John Thurman is the Center for Civic Education’s Vice President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer. He is responsible for the financial and business management of the Center as the organization ... [read more]

Donna PhillipsVice President & Chief Program Officer

Donna Phillips is the Center for Civic Education’s Vice President & Chief Program Officer for the Center for Civic Education, leading the Center’s ambitious strategic plan in development, implementation, and innovation of its national and international programs ... [read more]

James B. HerediaAssociate Director, Fiscal Affairs

James Heredia works with the executive director and other associate directors to advance the mission of the Center by providing fiscal leadership to meet its strategic goals and objectives. He has made numerous presentations on the importance ... [read more]

History of the Center

1965

The Beginning

The Center began as the Committee on Civic Education at the University of California at Los Angeles.

1965

1965-67

The Committee developed and implemented professional development programs with nationwide participants supported by the Danforth Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education under the National Defense Education Act and the Education Professions Development Act.

The Committee developed and implemented curricular programs in civics and government entitled, Your Rights and Responsibilities as an American Citizen; Conflict, Politics and Freedom; and Voices for Justice.

1967-69

The Committee created and administered a statewide curricular program on the Bill of Rights sponsored by the Advisory Panel to the Committee on Teaching About the Bill of Rights of the California State Board of Education.

1967-69

1969

The Center became affiliated with the State Bar of California.

1969-74

The Center was funded by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration of the U.S. Department of Justice and the California Council on Criminal Justice to develop and implement the Law in a Free Society professional development program in ten major school districts in California. The program was based on concepts fundamental to an understanding of politics and government. It was conducted under the auspices of the Extension Division of the University of California at Los Angeles.

1969-74

1974

The Center became a program of the State Bar of California.

With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Center produced the first editions of the Law in a Free Society/Foundations of Democracy multi-media curriculum materials.

1979

The Center became part of a consortium implementing civic education programs throughout the nation funded by the U.S. Department of Education under the Law Related Education Act. Other members included the Constitutional Rights Foundations of Los Angeles and Chicago, Street Law, and the Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship of the American Bar Association.

1979

1981

The Center became an independent 501(c)(3) California nonprofit corporation affiliated with the State Bar of California.

1982

With funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Center began the Youth for Justice program in conjunction with the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Street Law, the American Bar Association, and Phi Alpha Delta. The Center promoted the implementation of its Foundations of Democracy program through this funding.

1982

1987

We the People Program Begins

With funding through the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, the Center started the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program and published the first We the People text, which was for high school students. The We the People program won national acclaim as a civic education program focusing on the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. It has since been implemented in every state and congressional district and the District of Columbia.

1988

The Center published the We the People texts at the elementary and middle school levels.

The Center began The Disney Channel Salutes the American Teacher and The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards.

1988

1991

The Center published CIVITAS: A Framework for Civic Education, which was developed in conjunction with educators in every state as well as several other countries.

1992

The We the People program continued as a direct line item in the budget of the U.S. Department of Education and became an authorized program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for twenty-three years.

1992

1993

Project Citizen Program Begins

The Center created We the People: Project Citizen, which was incorporated into the ESEA as an authorized educational program. Project Citizen is a portfolio-based curricular program that promotes engaged participation in local, state, and federal government.

1994

The Center published the National Standards for Civics and Government, developed in conjunction with more than two thousand scholars, educators, and members of the general public. The National Standards have been widely used as a model for state curricular frameworks and standards throughout the country and in a number of other nations describing what students should know and be able to do in the field of civics and government at the end of grades 4, 8, and 12.

1994