The staff of the Center for Civic Education appreciates your hard work and dedication to teaching about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Because of your participation in the We the People Program, your students have the opportunity to study and learn about important constitutional principles and ideas in preparation for participating in the 29th Annual We the People National Finals. And, your students will acquire the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively participate in our constitutional democratic republic.
Robert S. Leming, Director
We the People Programs
Center for Civic Education
| Forms for Teachers | ||
| National Finals Class Roster Model Release [Under 18] [18 and Over] Hill Meeting and Monday Preference Form |
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| Competition Information Rules of Competition Scoring Criteria Scoring Guide Tips for Teachers Hearing Score Sheet Hearing Questions |
Teachers' FAQ
Who handles the students' travel?
WorldStrides handles the students' travel to the national finals.
When will the competition scores be available?
Second week of May, 2016
If I have any questions, who do I contact?
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Director, We the People Programs or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., National Finals Coordinator
Hearing Rooms
Saturday and Sunday
The hearings will take place on the campus of the University of Maryland. Because the hearing rooms are limited in size the number of open seats depends on the class size and number of parents and visitors. Every effort will be made to ensure that parents and visitors who have come to see a particular student testify will be seated in the room during that student’s unit hearing. Parents and visitors may stand in the back of the room unless otherwise directed due to fire codes and at the discretion of the teacher, room supervisor, or Center staff. To ensure that the hearings are not interrupted, parents and visitors will be admitted to the hearing room at appropriate break times (between units) and after the judges have left the room.
Everyone is welcome to observe the hearings. However to ensure fairness, anyone affiliated with a competing class (teachers, coaches, students, chaperons, parents, friends, relatives, etc.) may not enter the hearing room of any other competing class. Once a class hearing is completed, floor supervisors and Center staff will help direct classes and visitors exit in a timely fashion.
Monday
Everyone is welcome to attend any of the hearings on Capitol Hill. However, competing classes and people affiliated with those classes may only attend their hearings. In addition, classes competing during the afternoon and people affiliated with those classes may not attend any morning hearing. Because the hearing rooms on Capitol Hill are substantially larger visitors may be admitted to a hearing room after a hearing is underway at the discretion of the room supervisor. A Room Supervisor will be stationed outside the hearing room to monitor admittance. If you have any questions or concerns during the day, you may report to the Center's administrative office, Cannon 121.
Student Orientation Room
The Student Orientation will he held in the Hoff Theatre on the campus of the Univeristy of Marlyand. On the Saturday and Sunday there will be a half hour briefing for all classes before the hearings begin. Robert Leming, Director of the We the People Programs and Mark Molli, Director of Governmental Relations will officially welcome students, teachers, parents, and visitors to the 29th Annual We the People National Finals and address the students about important matters concerning the competition. Upon arrival floor supervisors and Center staff will direct students to the Orientation room. The briefiings will be held in the Hoff Theater in the Adele Stamp Student Union. Parents and visitors are welcome. At the end of the briefing, floor supervisors and Center staff will direct classes to their hearing rooms. Once all classes have been dismissed, parents and visitors will be directed to the hearing rooms.
Awards Ceremony
The Awards Ceremony will take place Monday night, April 25, 2016. The ceremony is the culminating event of the 29th Annual We the People National Finals - a time to celebrate the accomplishments of all of the students and teachers participating in the National Finals. Approximately 1,800 students, teachers, judges, volunteers, Center for Civic Education staff, and special guests will be in attendance. Recognition awards will be given to participating teachers. In addition, twenty-one class awards will be given, including six unit awards, five regional awards, and tenth- through first-place awards.
