The Bill of Rights Institute

The Bill of Rights Institute Helping teachers & students engage thoughtfully with history, civics & the practice of self-government.

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The bell has rung, and students are still talking about the lesson. Patricia Wyskowski loves that.Congratulations to Pat...
10/09/2026

The bell has rung, and students are still talking about the lesson. Patricia Wyskowski loves that.

Congratulations to Patricia of Bayonne High School in New Jersey, one of the 10 finalists for BRI’s National Civics Teacher of the Year Award! 👏

She once walked those halls as a student. Get to know the teacher keeping the conversation going:

https://bit.ly/3VEKP4S

In 2025, BRI ran 315 professional development programs across 27 states and Washington, D.C., reaching over 8,000 teache...
10/08/2026

In 2025, BRI ran 315 professional development programs across 27 states and Washington, D.C., reaching over 8,000 teachers. The programs we're most proud of aren't the ones with the highest single-day turnout. They're the ones where we're still showing up years later.

Our PD is built around the Founding documents — the Declaration, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights — and the civic principles that come up in every election, every courtroom, and every classroom debate. We design programming to compound: each session builds on the last, and each year gives teachers a deeper foundation to teach from.

What would your district's civics program look like with a PD partner for the next 3 years, not just the next 3 weeks?

🔗 Request a program: https://bit.ly/4fZoZ46

The attorneys are seventh graders. So is the jury ⚖️At Shaker Middle School in Latham, New York, Seth Harris’s Law Day m...
10/07/2026

The attorneys are seventh graders. So is the jury ⚖️

At Shaker Middle School in Latham, New York, Seth Harris’s Law Day mock trial has no script. His students have to build their arguments, listen closely, and make their case.

Congratulations, Seth, on being named one of the 10 finalists for BRI’s National Civics Teacher of the Year Award! 👏

Get to know Seth:

https://bit.ly/4i74GCm

Congratulations, Dina, Payton, Juan, and Patrick! 👏We’re celebrating the latest Civic Star Challenge honorees with iCivi...
10/06/2026

Congratulations, Dina, Payton, Juan, and Patrick! 👏

We’re celebrating the latest Civic Star Challenge honorees with iCivics, recognizing teachers who help students connect the Declaration of Independence to their own lives.

And to every teacher in this group helping students think for themselves: thank you for all your hard work!

We're grateful to The James Irvine Foundation, The Stand Together Trust, The Pederson Foundation, and Griffin Catalyst for helping make this recognition possible.

Meet the teachers:

https://bit.ly/4hG55u7

Round 2 is open! ✨If you missed the first Civic Star Challenge period, good news: the slate is clean and there are three...
10/06/2026

Round 2 is open! ✨

If you missed the first Civic Star Challenge period, good news: the slate is clean and there are three more $5,000 prizes on the table.

This period runs through October 31.

Share 1 civic moment from your classroom. That's all it takes!

👉 https://bit.ly/45xK27C

Years after graduation, Katie Boland’s students still send her Constitution Day photos of their pocket Constitutions. A ...
10/05/2026

Years after graduation, Katie Boland’s students still send her Constitution Day photos of their pocket Constitutions. A recent photo came from a former student’s own social studies classroom.

We’re celebrating Katie, a Trumbull High School teacher and one of the 10 finalists for BRI’s National Civics Teacher of the Year Award.

Congratulations, Katie! 👏

Get to know her:

https://bit.ly/4z7K6HU

Teachers, this time you’re the one taking the quiz 👀No studying required. Just bring your perspective.Try BRI's Which Fo...
10/02/2026

Teachers, this time you’re the one taking the quiz 👀

No studying required. Just bring your perspective.

Try BRI's Which Founder Are You? quiz to find your match, then let us know your result in the comments: Does it fit, or would you make a case for someone else?

Want to bring the fun to class? Invite students to compare results and explain their reasoning.

https://bit.ly/4rkSuBb

Before asking why the Articles fell short, ask why Americans chose them.BRI’s Understanding the Articles of Confederatio...
10/01/2026

Before asking why the Articles fell short, ask why Americans chose them.

BRI’s Understanding the Articles of Confederation takes students beyond a list of weaknesses to explore the concerns about power and liberty behind America’s first constitution.

Watch, then bring this question to your next class discussion: How can a government have enough power to protect rights without putting those rights at risk?

Explore the successes, struggles, and choices that helped shape the Constitution:

https://bit.ly/3UVYkNi

Seventh graders making their case in a mock trial. High school students preserving veterans' stories.The teachers behind...
09/30/2026

Seventh graders making their case in a mock trial. High school students preserving veterans' stories.

The teachers behind these experiences give students room to think for themselves and help them understand their responsibilities to others.

Congratulations to the 10 finalists for the Bill of Rights Institute's National Civics Teacher of the Year Award!

From elementary through high school, these educators help students weigh evidence, consider different perspectives, and debate ideas respectfully. We're proud to recognize your work preparing young people for self-government!

Meet the finalists:

https://bit.ly/3VkRFfK

⏰ Last call!The first Civic Star Challenge period closes tomorrow, September 30.Three $5,000 prizes are being awarded. E...
09/29/2026

⏰ Last call!

The first Civic Star Challenge period closes tomorrow, September 30.

Three $5,000 prizes are being awarded. Entry takes a few minutes.

Don't let this one go by.

👉 https://bit.ly/45xK27C

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1310 North Courthouse Road, Ste 620
Arlington, VA
22201

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