On July 23, 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed “Laura Wooten’s” Law, which mandates that every New Jersey school district offer a course of study in civics in middle school beginning in the 2022-2023 school year and directs the New Jersey Center for Civic Education to provide a curriculum guide, resources, and professional development. The course is supposed to address "the values and principles underlying the American system of constitutional democracy; the function and limitations of government; and the role of a citizen in a democratic society." The civics course must include "a minimum of two quarters of instruction, or the equivalent." (e.g., one and a half trimesters for districts following trimesters)
The Center organized a team of social studies supervisors and teachers and university faculty from across the state to create an Inquiry Framework to help school districts develop the required middle school civics course. The Inquiry Framework offers a coherent scope and sequence focused on the core values and principles of democracy, the structure and limits of the American democratic republic as set forth in our founding documents, an examination of how well we have met our democratic ideals, and the role of the citizen in a democratic society. It is structured in the format of big inquiry questions about both content—including concepts such as consent of the government, the rule of law, civic virtue, the common good, justice, equality, and diversity—and practices, such as evaluating sources, seeking diverse perspectives, engaging in civil discourse and taking informed action, consistent with the NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies (2020).
A Curriculum Guide with links to suggested lessons, activities, resources and assessments was then developed following the big inquiry questions and research on best practices to meet the goal of developing informed, engaged citizens. The 40-page Curriculum Guide is a living document which will be revised and enhanced over time. On-line and in-person professional development workshops will be on-going.
- Laura Wooten’s Law
- An Overview of the Middle School Civics Mandate
- Inquiry Framework for a Middle School Civics Course
- Curriculum Guide for a Middle School Civics Course
- Two quarters of civics - fall semester
- Two quarters of civics - spring semester
- Slides from Middle School Civics Workshops
- Differentiation for middle school social studies
- Suggested Practices
- Teaching Controversial Issues
- Media Literacy
Register for Workshops
The New Jersey Center for Civic Education conducted multiple regional workshops regarding the middle school mandate during 2022 and 2023. Additional workshops are listed below. Please feel free to contact the Center should you have questions about implementing the mandate.
Engaging Students in Middle School Civics, May 9, 2024, Rutgers University
Additional Workshops
Project Citizen, March 5, 2024, Rutgers University
This workshop will train teachers on how to utilize Project Citizen to help students develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to assume the important role of “citizen” in our democracy. Click on the registration link for more details.
Resources
Civic Concepts
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pdf
Consent of the Governed
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pdf
Forms of Government
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pptx
We the People slides for teachers
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pptx
We the People slides for teachers (2)
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pdf
Human Rights
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pdf
Power and Authority
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pdf
Social Contract Theory
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pdf
Teaching Conflict Resolution Skills
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pdf
The Evolution of Human Rights from Magna Carta
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pdf
The Rule of Law
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docx
What are American Civic Ideals?
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pdf
What is Civic Virtue?
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pdf
What is the Common Good
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docx
Why Do We Need Government?
- pdf Consent of the Governed
- pdf Forms of Government
- pptx We the People slides for teachers
- pptx We the People slides for teachers (2)
- pdf Human Rights
- pdf Power and Authority
- pdf Social Contract Theory
- pdf Teaching Conflict Resolution Skills
- pdf The Evolution of Human Rights from Magna Carta
- pdf The Rule of Law
- docx What are American Civic Ideals?
- pdf What is Civic Virtue?
- pdf What is the Common Good
- docx Why Do We Need Government?
The Structure of Government
The American Experience
The Role of the Citizen
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pdf
Citizenship and Citizens
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ppt
Project Citizen_3.18.25 teachers
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pdf
How can individuals and groups bring their concerns to public policymakers
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html
New York Times video: The Power to Change the World
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pdf
Presenting Your Class Plan
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pdf
Project Citizen workshop powerpoint
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pdf
Selecting an Issue
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pdf
Selecting the Best Solution for a public policy
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pdf
Student Reflections
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pdf
What is Public Policy?
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pdf
Why should individuals participate in the civic life of their communities
- pdf Citizenship and Citizens
- ppt Project Citizen_3.18.25 teachers
- pdf How can individuals and groups bring their concerns to public policymakers
- html New York Times video: The Power to Change the World
- pdf Presenting Your Class Plan
- pdf Project Citizen workshop powerpoint
- pdf Selecting an Issue
- pdf Selecting the Best Solution for a public policy
- pdf Student Reflections
- pdf What is Public Policy?
- pdf Why should individuals participate in the civic life of their communities
Other Civics Programs
- New Jersey Student Mock Election
- New Jersey history and government lessons for middle school grades
- Project Citizen for middle school grades
- We the People for middle school grades
- New Jersey Bar Foundation
- Energizing Young Voters
The Middle School Curriculum team
- Cherylanne Amendola, Teacher, Montclair-Kimberly Academy, Montclair
- Michael Catelli, Social Studies Supervisor, Somerset Hills School District, Bernardsville
- Prof. James Daly, College of Education and Human Services, Seton Hall University
- Sarah David, Gaudineer Middle School, Springfield Public Schools
- Arlene Gardner, NJ Center for Civic Education, Rutgers University
- Faye Johnson, Teacher, Brimm Medical Arts High School, Camden City Schools
- Scott Kercher, Social Studies Supervisor, Sparta
- Robert O’Dell, NJ Center for Civic Education, Rutgers University
- Paul Pinero, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Westfield Public Schools
- Shea Richardson, Social Studies Supervisor, East Orange Public schools
- Prof. Beth Rubin, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education
- Michael Savino, Teacher, Ridgefield Park Junior-Senior High School
- John Terry, Social Studies Supervisor, Bernards Twp. Public Schools
- Christopher Zarr, National Archives
Contact us with any questions: Arlene Gardner at
To subscribe to our listserv and receive updates about curriculum guides, please email Robert O'Dell at