Hartford, CT – The Civics Education for Connecticut Students project (CECS) has surged in its second year, bringing hands-on civics lessons to more than 20,000 K-5 students statewide.
Run by the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History with four partner institutions, the program pulls young learners out of their classrooms and into historic spaces.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education and backed by U.S. Rep. John Larson and Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Murphy, the initiative makes civics tangible.
Since launching in late 2023, 20,873 students have attended a CECS-supported museum program.
More than 8,500 participated at no cost. Schools from 223 Connecticut towns have sent students, with thousands more booked for spring.
Educators say civics is often crammed into reading exercises, leaving little room for meaningful discussion.
Field trips help students grasp democracy by stepping inside it. They pass mock laws, run pretend elections, and debate policy under the guidance of museum educators.
Yet access remains a hurdle. Schools with strapped budgets struggle to afford field trips, especially with high transportation costs. CECS addresses this by offering scaled pricing—those with the greatest need receive the most aid.
Teachers praise the program’s depth and clarity. “By investing in Connecticut’s K-5 learners, the Civics Education project lays an equitable foundation for civic engagement across future generations,” CECS officials said.
Programs will continue through 2025.
