Program areas at CRF
Constitutional Rights Foundation's (crf) civic action project is a project-based learning curriculum for middle and high school government and civics courses. This standards-based model addresses local government, policy making, and issue analysis. Students receive a practicum in civic engagement, empowering them to act and address real, self-selected community problems and issues. The program provides resources to teachers in all 50 states and reaches well over 100,000 students annually.
Crf's mock trial is a program in which typically over 110 teams of students compete as courtroom participants in a simulated criminal trial. Presided over by real judges and attorneys, mock trial builds confidence, critical thinking, collaboration, and presentation skills, while leading many participants to pursue legal or public service careers. The program provides resources to schools in the majority of California counties, and reaches 8000 students annually.
Crf's bill of Rights in action newsletter provides resources and school lessons on world and us history and the us constitution. Over 31,000 teachers currently subscribe to this quarterly publication.
Crf is known for a wide range of ongoing, direct programming for students from primarily underserved communities. In these programs, we emphasize active learning through deliberation, discussion, simulations, and role play. When civic content and skills are taught effectively, young people also develop civic dispositions including the belief in their responsibility to participate in democratic processes, the value of keeping up with current events, respecting one another, and valuing the Rights of others.