iCivics
Model & Strategy
Spearheaded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in 2009, iCivics develops new and innovative approaches to civic education. iCivics’ game-centered curriculum provides middle and high school students with the tools they need for active participation and democratic action.
The games place students in different civic roles and give them agency to address real-world problems and issues. The games are rooted in clear learning objectives and integrated with lesson plans and other curricular materials. The iCivics curriculum is grouped into topical units that align to state and Common Core standards. Ultimately, the platform creates a reinvigorated network of educators committed to the civic mission of schools.
iCivics founder, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, was the first female appointed Supreme Court Justice of the U.S. She is a champion of civics education and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.
Louise Dube joined iCivics as Executive Director in 2014. Louise discovered the power of education in the early 1990’s as a co-founder of CASES, a New York alternative to incarceration program for youth offenders where education helped re-shape lives. She has successfully led growth organizations that make and deliver engaging educational technology and digital media. Most recently, she was the Managing Director of Digital Learning at WGBH, a public radio station in Boston. At WGBH, Louise helped launch PBS LearningMedia, a platform with more than 87,000 classroom-ready digital resources reaching 1.5 million educators. Previously, Louise served as President of Pangea Tools, an educational software start-up successfully acquired by Houghton Mifflin, and as VP of Marketing at Time To Know, a 1:1 curriculum platform, now distributed by McGraw-Hill Education.
IMPACT
iCivics now serves over 6.75 million students. The network counts over 108,000 active registered teachers each year.
iCivics is the largest provider of civics programming in America. Half of all middle school social studies teachers and a quarter of all high school government/history teachers rely on iCivics for their curriculum.
iCivics is a proven solution: its products bolster young people’s civic knowledge, civic attitudes and writing ability – all while controlling for gender, race, and income. Above all, students become engaged and curious about civic life.
iCivics spearheads the CivXNow! Coalition – a movement of over 115 highly influential organizations to raise national visibility and support for civic education mandates. This Coalition builds on the successful Democracy at a Crossroads summit in September 2017 and then the Civic Learning Impact and Measurement convening in Menlo Park, CA in January 2019. iCivics is now developing key infrastructure to achieve concrete policy goals at the state and federal level.
iCivics News
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Sandra Day O'Connor: Why It's So Important for Women to VoteSandra Day O’Connor, the first female Supreme Court justice, says if American women want to wield political power, they must show up to the polls…Oct 2017 -
Louise Dubé Named 2017 DvF People's Voice Award WinnerLouise Dubé, Executive Director of iCivics, has won the 2017 DVF People’s Voice Award and $50,000 to continue to reach iCivics’ goal of energizing children to get…Mar 2017 -
Spotlight on Justice O'Connor and iCivics in the NYTJustice O’Connor became involved in digital games after retiring from the Supreme Court in 2006. In 2009 she started iCivics, a nonprofit civics eduation group. …Mar 2016
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Sandra Day O'Connor's Post-Court Legacy: iCivicsSince the first iCivics games appeared online in 2009, they have been played millions of times. Each school year, players — the vast majority of…Apr 2015
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iCivics receives MacArthur Award Given to 9 Exceptional Nonprofits Changing the WorldNine organizations were named as recipients of the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. The Award, which recognizes exceptional nonprofit organizations that are engaged in…Feb 2015
