June 24, 2026 |Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Education, News, Resources

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces No-Cost Civics Education Training for Massachusetts Educators

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New Teaching for Civic Empowerment Initiative designed to strengthen statewide civics instruction

From the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced Teaching for Civic Empowerment, a new professional learning initiative designed to strengthen civics instruction. This new statewide effort aims to provide free, high-quality professional learning opportunities to 6,000 educators over five years to increase educator confidence and expertise with civics instruction.
 
Beginning in July, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in partnership with Generation Citizen and Primary Source, will offer virtual and in-person courses for Massachusetts elementary and secondary educators at no cost.
 
“Civics education helps students build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to participate in their communities and our democracy,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By investing in educators and expanding access to high-quality training and resources, we’re helping ensure that students across Massachusetts become informed, engaged members of their communities and future leaders in our state.”
 
“Students learn best when they can see how their education connects to the world around them,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This initiative will help educators bring civics to life in the classroom and empower more students to become informed and engaged members of their communities.”
 
This initiative follows the administration’s recent release of final recommendations for a statewide high school graduation framework designed to ensure every Massachusetts student graduates prepared for college, careers and civic life. The recommendations included that students develop civic knowledge and skills through coursework and applied learning experiences. These competencies will be integrated across the graduation framework through MassCore coursework, required Civics Action Projects, relevant culminating experiences, and a potential Seal of Distinction.
 
“This is an important moment in time to support civics education and make sure that students are informed, engaged and empowered to actively participate in society and democracy. We are glad to provide these resources for educators to help them support our students today become our leaders of tomorrow,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike.
 
Teaching for Civic Empowerment builds on the Civics Pathways program DESE launched in 2023 and responds to findings from a 2025 report that identified strong implementation of civics as well as persistent needs for additional educator supports.
 
DESE will provide the free, high-quality professional learning aligned with the 2018 Massachusetts History and Social Science Framework and the student-led civics project requirement established in a 2018 state law. Courses will help educators implement culturally and linguistically sustaining civics instruction and student-led civics projects, which are required in eighth grade and high school. DESE recently held four statewide Civics Project Showcases at which a total of more than 1,000 students presented their projects.
 
“Civics education prepares our students to become engaged in their communities,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez said. “We’re pleased to offer teachers these courses and aligned supports.” 
 
Recently, as part of Massachusetts 250, the Executive Office of Education invited K-12 students to submit artwork, essays, poetry, documentary videos and performance pieces highlighting revolutionary figures and moments that helped shape Massachusetts history through the “Massachusetts Revolutionaries: Bold Stories, Bright Legacies” initiative. Governor Healey and Secretary Zrike recently met with the student winners of this initiative at the State House, showcasing their creative projects that tell the story of a particular “revolutionary” figure from Massachusetts.
 
Educators can find details on opportunities as they become available on DESE’s Teaching for Civic Empowerment webpage.