LAW, CIVICS & THE CLASSROOM
Constitutional Questions for the Classroom
For more than 20 years, the Constitutional Democracy Project’s Annual Conference for Teachers in Civics, Law & Government has brought together educators and experts for a unique, working professional development experience. Teachers, professors, lawyers, judges, historians, civic leaders, museum and cultural institution educators, and civic education specialists come together to explore the questions that matter most to the teaching of law, history, government, and civics.
In 2027, the conference moves to a new season — Friday, March 12, during Civic Learning Week — while continuing the tradition educators have come to expect from CDP: thoughtful conversations, engaging speakers, timely issues, and practical ideas that can be brought directly into the classroom.
A Working Conference for Educators
CDP’s Annual Conference is more than a day of presentations. It is a working professional development experience where educators engage with experts, explore important questions, experience instructional approaches, exchange ideas with colleagues, and consider how those ideas can translate into meaningful learning experiences for their students.
The 2027 theme, LAW, CIVICS & THE CLASSROOM: Constitutional Questions for the Classroom, reflects CDP’s longstanding commitment to connecting the study of law, history, and government with the realities of teaching and learning.
Students encounter complex constitutional, legal, historical, and civic questions every day. Educators need opportunities to examine those questions carefully, consider multiple perspectives, and develop effective ways to help students do the same. The conference brings together voices from the classroom, the legal profession, higher education, history, museums, and civic education to explore how rigorous instruction can help students develop the knowledge, skills, and habits needed to participate thoughtfully in civic life.
Participants can expect engaging discussions, active learning, practical classroom strategies, and resources that can be adapted for middle and high school students. The conference also provides an opportunity to connect with colleagues and professionals who share a commitment to meaningful civic learning.
Whether you are a longtime participant or attending for the first time, we invite you to join us for a day of learning, conversation, collaboration, and practical ideas for the classroom.
Friday, March 12, 2027
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago, Illinois
Seeking Proposals
The Constitutional Democracy Project (CDP) invites proposals for its 2027 Annual Conference for Teachers in Civics, Law & Government, taking place Friday, March 12, 2027, in Chicago during Civic Learning Week.
We are seeking proposals for interactive, practical, and thought-provoking sessions that provide teachers with ideas, strategies, resources, and experiences they can take directly into their classrooms.
We are particularly interested in proposals that:
- Address one or more best practices outlined in the Illinois civics course requirements;
- Encourage active student participation, inquiry, discussion, and civic engagement;
- Demonstrate practical application to the work of teachers and other educators;
- Connect law, history, government, and civic education to contemporary questions and classroom learning;
- Incorporate primary sources, multimedia, technology, simulations, or other engaging instructional approaches;
- Offer innovative or creative approaches to teaching;
- Provide opportunities for meaningful discussion and collaboration;
- Include useful classroom resources, materials, or strategies that participants can take back to their schools; and
- Align with one or more of the Illinois Social Science Learning Standards.
Sessions are 55 minutes long. Proposals should be designed to make effective use of the session time and, whenever possible, include opportunities for participants to engage actively with the content.
Conference Tracks
We are seeking proposals that align most closely with one of the following three tracks:
Law & Government
Constitutional literacy, Supreme Court cases, student rights, law and public policy, democratic institutions, civic participation, constitutional questions, simulations, and civic action.
History in Action
Teaching history through inquiry and primary sources, critical democratic struggles, movements for rights and equality, constitutional change, historical turning points, contested histories, and connections between the past and questions facing students today.
Classroom Practice
Practical strategies for inclusive, inquiry-driven, discussion-rich learning; teaching controversial issues; media and information literacy; student-centered instruction; assessment; simulations; deliberation; and strategies that help students develop the knowledge and skills needed for civic participation.
Who Should Submit a Proposal?
We welcome proposals from classroom teachers, teacher leaders, attorneys, judges, historians, scholars, civic educators, museum educators, community organizations, and other practitioners with expertise and experience relevant to civics, law, government, history, and classroom practice.
We are especially interested in sessions that move beyond lecture-style presentations and give teachers opportunities to experience the strategies and activities they can use with their own students.
