Program: Civics that Empowers All Students (CEAS) aims to increase the number of highly effective educators through an evidence-based project that provides teachers with preparation, professional development (PD), and ongoing support as they engage with students. CEAS innovates and improves the Center’s acclaimed We the People civic education PD and curricular program in the upper elementary and middle grades (4–8) to meet the needs of today’s educators and learners with numerous identities, abilities, and challenges.

Apply: If you are a teacher in grades 4-8 working with underserved populations in Washington, you could be eligible! Participants receive stipends, a set of textbooks, free online resources, and rich opportunities for professional development with mentor teachers. Please fill out this form to apply for the program.

Hosted by: This opportunity is hosted by nonprofit Civic Education Washington State (CEWS), led by Executive Director Jessica Kelly. We are excited to host this for you!

Teacher Requirements

Teach in grades 4-8 (for 2025-2026 school year)
Teach in a school with at least 30% underserved students. This can be a Title 1 school, or a school with at least 30% of any underserved student population, as defined with the U.S. Department of Education.
Have no prior We the People multi-day professional development or experience teaching the curriculum
Attend a 36 PD hour Summer Institute (July 20-25 in Tacoma, WA)
Implement 40 hours of We the People Instruction in your classroom (during the 2025-2026 school year)
Take a teacher pre-test and post-test (Civic Education WA State does not have access to teacher scores)
Administer a student pre-test and post-test
Participate in 16 hours of follow up professional development during the 2025-2026 school year
Have students participate in a simulated congressional hearing
Allow a We the People mentor to visit and observe students participating in the simulated congressional hearing

Do you teach at least one class with at least 30% underserved students? This may include students of color, students living in poverty (or in Title 1 schools), students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students in foster care, students performing significantly below grade level, or other underserved groups. *

Yes

An underserved student is in one or more of the following subgroups: living in poverty or served by a school with a high concentration of students living in poverty, student of color, member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe, an English learner, student with a disability, disconnected youth, technologically unconnected youth, migrant student, experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, LGBTQI+ student, in foster care, without documentation or immigration status, pregnant or parenting, impacted by the justice system, or performing significantly below grade level.

If you are not selected for this cohort, are you interested in becoming a control group teacher for the 2025-2026 school year? A control group teacher has never had training in the We the People curriculum. You would receive a stipend to take a pre and post-instruction survey and administer an online pre- and post-survey your students. You would not participate in professional development or use the curriculum in 2025-2026. You would receive priority registration to participate in the 2026-2027 professional development program. *

Yes

Maybe, please reach out with more details