Preparing all Maryland students for lifelong civic engagement
Preparing Maryland Youth for Lifelong Civic Engagement
The Maryland Civic Education Coalition brings together students, educators, schools, civic organizations, higher education, policymakers, and community members to strengthen civic learning across Maryland.
We believe every student deserves opportunities to learn about our democracy, engage with their community, develop civic skills, and discover their own capacity to make a difference.
Learn. Connect. Participate. Lead.
What We Do
Advocate for Strong Civic Education
We advance nonpartisan policies that strengthen civic and social studies education across Maryland.
Our advocacy helped establish the Maryland Civic Excellence Program in 2026, creating a statewide pathway to recognize high school students for civic readiness and engagement. We are now working with state and community partners as Maryland develops the criteria and guidance for implementation.
We also advocate for meaningful instructional time for social studies, strong civic learning beginning in the early grades, high-quality service learning, support for educators, and equitable access to civic opportunities.
Connect Schools & Communities
Civic learning happens in classrooms, but it doesn't stop there.
We connect educators and students with nonprofits, libraries, museums, colleges and universities, government, civic institutions, and community organizations that offer opportunities to learn, serve, participate, and lead.
Our goal is not to duplicate the great work already happening across Maryland. We help connect it.
Support Educators
Teachers make meaningful civic learning possible.
We share resources, research, professional learning, partnerships, and opportunities that help educators bring civics, history, social studies, media literacy, service learning, and civic participation to life.
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Elevate Student Voice
Young people aren't just preparing to participate someday. They are part of Maryland's civic life now.
Through our Youth Advisory Council, annual Summit, advocacy trainings, student showcases, and other opportunities, students learn alongside adults, share their experiences, develop leadership skills, and help shape our work. The 2026 Summit, for example, brought students, educators, parents, civic organizations, and community members together for an explicitly intergenerational day of learning and participation.
Join the Youth Advisory Council →
Bringing Maryland Together for Civic Learning
Each year, our Maryland Civic Education & Engagement Leadership Summit brings together people from across the state to learn, exchange ideas, build partnerships, and strengthen Maryland's civic-learning network.
Throughout the year, Coalition members also connect through meetings, workshops, advocacy trainings, conferences, newsletters, policy conversations, and partner events.
Whether you're a student, educator, parent, community organization, researcher, or civic leader, there's a place for you in this work.
Our Mission
The Maryland Civic Education Coalition is a nonpartisan, statewide coalition working to ensure that all Maryland students have access to meaningful, hands-on, comprehensive civic education and service-learning opportunities.
We strengthen the people, partnerships, policies, and opportunities that help young Marylanders become knowledgeable, connected, capable, and engaged members of their communities.
Join the Coalition
Civic education is a shared responsibility.
Schools can't do it alone. Neither can any single organization.
Join a growing network of Marylanders working together to ensure that every young person has meaningful opportunities to learn, participate, connect, and lead.
