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During the pandemic, the Civic Learning Award program took pause to honor individual programs, classes and clubs, and individual Champions of Civics. This was the model for 2021 and 2022 during a time when schools were remote learning, supporting hybrid classrooms, and getting back to campus life full-time.

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The Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative is always looking for new, innovative ideas to implement, promote, expand, and celebrate effective civics programming! So we ask you: Teachers and students, if you were in a position to really change how civics reaches students in public school, where would you begin? 

The Chief Justice visits schools of Excellence. Schools of Distinction and Merit receive visits from judges in their community. In 2021 and 2022, visits to campus events were canceled due to the uncertainty and unpredictable nature of public health directives.  In 2023, the Award of Excellence were be presented in September by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. This will give schools time to organize celebrations during Constitution Month, and around Constitution Day (September 17). Award program staff connected awarded schools with local judicial officers.

Each year, the applications are scored by a panel of approximately 12 judicial officers, educators, and civic learning experts. Most panelists are members of the Power of Democracy Steering Committee.

The awards recognize and celebrate public schools K-12 that demonstrate a commitment to providing rich civic learning opportunities for students.