The National Constitution Center (NCC) is launching a new national curriculum initiative focused on civic virtues — examining how the founding generation understood virtue, happiness, and self-government and how those ideas can be meaningfully taught in today’s classrooms. The program will produce classroom-ready courses for both middle school and high school levels, and teachers will play a central role in shaping the materials.
Educators selected as fellows will not simply test lessons — they will help design a civic education resource intended for classrooms across the country. Stipends are provided for participation.
Application Deadline: Friday, February 17
What Fellows Will Do
Fellows will actively contribute to curriculum development by:
- Piloting Civic Virtue modules in their own classroom(s)
- Providing structured feedback on:
- Clarity and accessibility of content
- Instructional pacing and flow
- Student engagement and discussion quality
- Usability across different classroom settings
- Completing brief reflection journals and surveys after implementation
- Participating in occasional virtual meetings with NCC staff
- Helping ensure authentic teacher voice shapes the final curriculum
Time Commitment
- Length: Approximately one academic year
- Fellows should expect to:
- Teach selected modules within existing courses
- Submit short reflections after each pilot window
- Attend periodic virtual meetings (scheduled in advance)
The fellowship is designed to integrate into normal teaching practice rather than add a separate course.
Support Provided
Participants will receive:
- Clear implementation guidance and pacing timelines
- Structured feedback templates
- Direct collaboration with the NCC Education Team
- Access to a national network of educators and professional resources
- A stipend for participation
Why This Matters
This fellowship offers educators the opportunity to influence a national civic education resource while reflecting on how foundational American ideas about virtue and citizenship translate into modern classrooms. Teachers interested in civic discourse, constitutional principles, and meaningful student discussion would find this especially valuable.
