Civics that Empowers All Students May 21, 2025
On May 21, 2025, approximately 180 4th-8th grade students from across the state will converge in Montpelier (Snelling Room of the Vermont History Museum), to participate in Student Congressional Hearings. This is part of the “Civics that Empowers All Students” (CEAS) program. The Vermont Agency of Education is looking for individuals who would like to serve as ‘judges’; because of the ages of these students, the teachers will be providing judges with the questions that the students would like to be asked, which is different from how the program is run at the high school level.
The need is for:
- 10-12 judges each for the 9 AM-12 PM block and the 12 PM-2 PM block for the 4th to 8th grade students; (arrival time 30 minutes prior and feel free to stay all day);
- 3-4 judges from approximately 10 AM-12 PM for St. Johnsbury High School students who would like to also showcase in the former library at the back of the Supreme Court building. Individuals with experience in the “We the People” program would be ideal, but Martha Deiss at the Vermont Agency of Education is happy to provide more information for anyone interested!
- Please email your interest and any questions to her at martha.deiss@vermont.gov
A Little Background Information from Martha:
Over the past two years, eleven Vermont educators have participated in professional development supported by the Center for Civic Education as part of a three-year CEAS Georgetown University study. The study is focused on the effectiveness of the Center’s “We the People” Student Congressional Hearing program, as it prepares educators for high quality interdisciplinary instruction in both civics and English language arts.
Research demonstrates that effective instruction in the We the People curriculum increases students’ analysis, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills. All are essential to academic success across disciplines and 21st-century work and civic life.
Students gain a greater sense of belonging, understanding of their community and government, and English Language Arts skills as they engage in collaboration, dialogue, reading, writing, presentation, and reflection.
Students will be coming from various parts of the state to participate in the Hearings and will be arriving and needing to leave at different times, therefore there will be no opening or closing ceremony. Hearings will take place in the Snelling Room of the Vermont History Museum beginning at 9 AM and will end at 2 PM. Students have also been provided the opportunity to have tours of the State House and visit the History Museum during the day.
Finally, if you know of teachers that would like to participate in the final CEAS cohort this summer, have them apply asap, or reach out to martha.deiss@vermont.gov.
