The Civically Engaged Districts Project
Nurturing Youth Civic Voice and Engagement
The Civically Engaged Districts project promotes active, youth-centered civic learning for all students.
We do this by supporting the integration of civic action research (also known as youth participatory action research, or YPAR) into K12 classrooms.
In civic action research, young people work collaboratively to choose a concern to investigate, conduct original research in their schools and communities, share what they've learned and take action.
Check Out the Latest Book!
Youth Participatory Action Research in Your Classroom: Teaching and Learning for Active Citizenship By Beth C. Rubin
Ready to bring civic action and student voice into your classroom? This brand-new book from Teachers College Press and NCSS is your step-by-step guide to making learning meaningful, democratic, and empowering. Featuring vivid classroom stories, practical tools, and four inspiring case studies from real teachers and students—this is YPAR in action!
“A must-read for K–12 educators who recognize the power of schools that actively engage and nurture citizens for our democracy.”
— Cinthia Salinas, University of Texas at Austin
Youth-led civic action research is the heart of the Civically Engaged Districts project experience. Students are “citizens of the now” in these projects, analyzing, investigating and taking action on the issues that concern them the most.
The Civically Engaged Districts project is a collaboration between Rutgers Graduate School of Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, and public school educators throughout the state of New Jersey.
