Register today for the New Perspectives on the Northwest Ordinance Conference

Educators are encouraged to register for the free conference hosted by the America250-Ohio Commission and the Ohio State Initiative for America250 on the Ohio State University’s campus. The Jan. 31 sessions highlight how educators can bring scholarly insights and understandings on the Northwest Ordinance and its impact into the classroom through high-quality instruction and instructional materials. The Department will also share more about Ohio’s Integrated Model Curriculum in a panel session. On-site registration will be available.

Learn more and register for the conference on the New Perspectives on the Northwest Ordinance conference webpage.

The Presidential 1776 Award competition registration opens Feb. 01

The Presidential 1776 Award is a national competition for students in grades 9-12 that recognizes academic excellence in American history. Open to high schoolers, it includes a first round online exam, regional semifinals, and a nationally broadcast final "Civics Bee" in Washington, D.C. Winners receive scholarships up to $150,000, celebrating knowledge of the founders, Constitution, and Revolutionary War.

Students can register from Feb. 1-21. The online test period takes place Feb. 22-28. Sign up to get updates and receive full test information on the Presidential 1776 Award contest website.

Civic Star Challenge highlights Declaration of Independence themes and civic learning

The Civic Star Challenge is a partnership through iCivics and the Bills of Rights Institute that encourages students to explore the themes from the Declaration of Independence through classroom instruction and lessons. Educators and students can also join the Essay Challenge to win prizes and grant funding.

Learn more about the challenge and prize opportunities on the Civic Star Challenge website.

The professional learning opportunities and instructional resources included in this update are free and have been reviewed using the Department’s Social Studies resource filter against established criteria. Copies of the completed filter forms are available upon request. The Department does not endorse a specific professional learning opportunity or instructional resource for Social Studies. Many quality opportunities and resources are available beyond those included here. Educators should use their professional expertise and work with their school districts to determine the suitability of any resources for use in the locally prescribed curriculum and classroom experiences.