COVID News Center:

Statewide emergency actions and updates on county court services and operations here.

Search results

Feature - June 11, 2019

Record Breaking Year for Civic Learning Awards

A record 92 public schools throughout California were recognized by the Civic Learning Awards. Now in it's seventh year, the awards recognize public schools for their civic education achievements.

Civic Learning Awards

Civic Learning Initiative

Court Of Appeal

Chief Justice

Feature - April 29, 2016

Justice Judith McConnell Honored for Work in Civic Education

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye has selected Administrative Presiding Justice Judith D. McConnell for the Chief Justice's Award for Exemplary Service and Leadership for her outstanding work in civics.

Judith McConnell, 4th District Court of Appeal

Award for Exemplary Service and Leadership

Chief Justice

Civics

Justice Judith McConnell invites students to take the role of judge during a program to teach kids about the judicial branch at the California Lawyers Association annual conference.

Feature - April 15, 2016

Chief Justice Visits Award-Winning Schools

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye recently visited three schools earning a Civic Learning Award of Excellence—the highest honor —this year: Kumeyaay Elementary in San Diego County, Bellflower High School in Los Angeles County, and Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Charter in Sacramento County.

More about Civic Learning Awards

Civics

Chief Justice

Feature - February 3, 2017

More Civic Learning to Reach California Schools

With an assist from the Chief Justice's initiative on civic learning, the California Department of Education has started rolling out a new history-social science framework that emphasizes civic education.

Civic Learning Initiative

Power of Democracy

History-Social Science Framework

Chief Justice

Civics

News Release - February 28, 2019

Chief Justice Announces Winners of 2019 Civic Learning Awards

California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye announced today the recipients of the 2018-2019 Civic Learning Awards to 92 schools, the most award recipients in the program’s history.

News Release - December 13, 2018

Educators Bring Judges into the Classroom

When Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye started her Civic Learning Initiative in 2013, she discovered that little time was devoted to teaching civics in California K-12 public schools, with no plans to bring it back.

Chief Justice's Civic Learning Initiative

Civics

Chief Justice

Shasta County Judge Stephen Baker showed teachers the resources available for creating lessons about the courts.

News Release - March 5, 2020

Civic Learning Awards Honor 75 California Schools

Seventy-five public schools were honored with Civic Learning Awards, which are co-sponsored by the Chief Justice and State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Civic Learning Initiative

Chief Justice

Civics

News Release - September 22, 2016

Chief Justice Invites Civic Learning Award Applications

Applications are now available online for the 2016-17 Civic Learning Awards.

Civic Learning Awards

California Department of Education

Civics

Chief Justice

Feature - August 10, 2017

Civics Movement Gains Ground

Inspired by the Chief Justice, 13 California counties launch efforts to boost civic education.

Feature - July 19, 2016

State Approves More Civic Learning

After more than a dozen years of striving for a more robust civics curriculum in California’s public schools, advocates for civic learning are about to get their wish.

Power of Democracy Steering Committee

CA History Social Science Framework

State Board of Education

CA English Language Arts Framework

Civics

Chief Justice

Feature - October 8, 2021

Chief Justice Invites Civic Learning Award Applications

Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Civic Learning Awards, which recognize programs in public schools that engage youth in civics learning.

Power of Democracy

Civics

Chief Justice

Feature - October 21, 2021

Visits to Local Classrooms Bring Lessons on the Constitution

To commemorate Constitution Day, California judges visited classrooms and libraries statewide to deliver lessons on the three branches of government and the role of the courts. The effort supports a year-round drive to foster a better understanding of the judicial branch among students and teachers. 