Thanks to centers like UD’s Delaware Center for Civics Education (DCCE), civics lessons are becoming a powerful tool to improve statewide literacy and comprehension. Through professional development programs such as DCCE’s flagship program, the Democracy Project Summer Institute and the new Literacy for We the People Summer Institute (LWTP), DCCE has partnered with the state to train up to 500 educators in the art of civic instruction.

Expanding civics education

Article by Sophonie Milord Photos by Biden School staff October 08, 2026

For nearly 25 years, UD’s Delaware Center for Civics Education has bridged the gap between educators, students and government officials through state programs that promote civic engagement and education

For Delaware educators like Chanell Rogers, civics education is more than classroom instruction; it is a holistic tool that impacts the everyday lives of students and communities.

“Civics is so much more than teaching the branches of government or how a bill becomes a law,” said Rogers, dean of students at Lancashire Elementary School in the Brandywine School District. “It’s about empowering students to find their voice, think critically, and become engaged members of their communities.”

This longstanding partnership has connected government officials, educators and students to prioritize democratic principles in K-12 learning for nearly 25 years. Both programs provide Delaware teachers with practical classroom resources and innovative strategies to develop more informed and engaged students.

Now, the work is expanding. Over the course of the summer, DCCE worked directly with 90 educators from 24 districts and 42 schools across all three Delaware counties through the Democracy Project, the LWTP Summer Institute, the Library of Congress professional development, and a bus trip to Washington, D.C. The trip was tied to DCCE’s Library of Congress grant initiative, which brought award-winning teachers together to design new Declaration-centered model lessons across all grade levels.

DCCE’s yearly professional development programs provide educators with a network of long-lasting support, tools and empowerment to better support their students.

LWTP in action

Rogers, a repeat participant of DCCE’s programs over the years and now mentor teacher, was proud to be part of the inaugural LWTP Summer Institute.

“We were laying the foundation for something that can grow across Delaware,” she said.

Launched this August at UD’s STAR Campus in Newark, LWTP provides an engaging experience for teachers and students to better understand the Constitution’s purpose, history, and civic responsibilities.

“The main focus of LWTP is to implement Science of Reading-aligned literacy lessons paired with civics content, creating a powerful integration that can help students deepen their civic knowledge and skills while also developing their reading comprehension,” said Scott Abbott, assistant director of DCCE.

By moving civics beyond textbook facts and bringing SOR practices into classroom lessons, LWTP bridges civics and literacy — helping students to better understand complex texts across all subjects, make sense of current events and become engaged citizens.

DCCE newcomer Nora Durant, a fourth grade social studies teacher at Marbrook Elementary in the Red Clay School District, was pleasantly surprised by how interactive the daily lessons were.

“As participants of LWTP, we experienced lessons from a student perspective, taught by expert mentor teachers. We shouldn’t ask our students to do what we haven’t attempted ourselves—it gave me a clear understanding of the hearing process and a deep appreciation for what our students will feel when they present in May,” said Durant. “Lessons that shifted my mentality when it comes to teaching civics were those that emphasized the importance of students being able to think and communicate like citizens, not just read and comprehend information.”

Democracy Project in action

Funded by a Project Citizen Integrated Civic Competencies (ICC) grant, the 2026 Democracy Project partnered with the national Center for Civic Education and Georgetown University’s Civic Education Research Lab (CERL) to measure the effectiveness of Project Citizen on student civic competence.

In June, 23 Delaware teachers and four mentors gathered in Lewes for a weeklong Democracy Project Summer Institute focused on the ICC Project Citizen. Traveling across Sussex County, educators met with local officials tackling environmental resiliency in Lewes and homelessness in Georgetown, then created group presentations on these state issues — preparing them to guide students through similar projects in the upcoming school year.

In June, 23 Delaware teachers and four mentors gathered in Lewes for a weeklong Democracy Project Summer Institute focused on the ICC Project Citizen.

Fran O’Malley, project director of DCCE, noted that mentor teachers and leaders will provide year-round guidance as participating educators bring Project Citizen into their classrooms and guide students toward the state showcase. This yearlong support, coupled with CERL’s ongoing research, reflects DCCE’s direct impact and its commitment to strengthening civic education across Delaware.

“What makes [these programs] so powerful is their reach,” said Rogers. “Educators leave with a supportive network, practical tools and an empowered mindset that spreads civic joy — empowering teachers, who empower students, who ultimately strengthen Delaware’s communities.”

About the Institute for Public Administration

The University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) addresses the policy, planning, and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development and the education of tomorrow’s leaders. As a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, IPA collaborates with state agencies, municipal governments, nonprofits, communities and businesses to examine complex policy issues and improve quality of life in Delaware and beyond.

About the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration

Established in 1961 and named in 2018 for the 46th President of the United States, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware prepares students with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to engage in research and public service activities to improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni create and use interdisciplinary, nonpartisan research and empirically based analysis to inform effective decision-making and policy and to improve leadership and administration. We partner with organizations from all sectors to discover and foster innovative and equitable solutions that promote civic virtues and democratic values.

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