Professional Development Calendar
Civic Mission Exchange: Webinar Series
The Civic Mission Exchange Webinar Series brings educators together throughout the school year to explore timely ideas, practical strategies, and trusted resources for strengthening civic learning. Featuring educators, scholars, and civic learning partners, each session connects research and promising practices to the real work of classrooms and schools—helping students become civic ready and future ready.
Wednesday, October 28th: 4-5 PM On the Docket: A Teacher’s Guide to the 2026–27 Supreme Court Term with Professor Steven D. Schwinn
Wednesday, November 4th: 4-5 PM Navigating Misinformation in Election Season and Beyond with the News Literacy Project
Wednesday, December 9th: 4-5 PM Beyond the Ballot: Making Sense of the 2026 Midterms with Dr. Shawn P. Healy
Wednesday, January 13, 2027: 4-5 PM From Listening to Leading: Strengthening Student Voice and Youth–Adult Partnerships with the CMSN
Guardians of Democracy Microcredential Courses
Developed in partnership with the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida and the Illinois Civics Hub, the Guardians of Democracy Program is an online professional development program with extended learning opportunities for interested 6-12 educators. Our goal is to support a national professional development program and establish a network of certified educators across disciplines that embrace the proven practices of civic education to equip young people for college, career, and civic life success.
This program is inspired by the landmark report, Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools, published by The Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools.
Learning: Start your experience here
- January 5- February 5, 2027: Current and Controversial Issue Discussions Bronze Certified Educator Badge
- January 5- February 5, 2027: Simulations of Democratic Processes Bronze Certified Educator Badge
- January 5- February 5, 2027: Informed Action through Service Learning Bronze Certified Educator Badge
- January 5- February 5, 2027: Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice Bronze Certified Educator Badge
Strengthening: Grow your practice with one of these courses
- February 8- March 12, 2027: Current and Controversial Issue Discussions Silver Distinguished Educator Badge
- February 8- March 12, 2027: Simulations of Democratic Processes Bronze Silver Distinguished Educator Badge
- February 8- March 12, 2027: Informed Action through Service Learning Silver Distinguished Educator Badge
- February 8- March 12, 2027: Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice Silver Distinguished Educator Badge
Leading: Engage student voice to enhance your practice and lead others
- November 2- December 4, 2026: Current and Controversial Issue Discussions Gold Guardian Educator Badge
- November 2- December 4, 2026: Simulations of Democratic Processes Bronze Gold Guardian Educator Badge
- November 2- December 4, 2026: Informed Action through Service Learning Bronze Gold Guardian Educator Badge
- November 2- December 4, 2026: Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice Gold Guardian Educator Badge
Illinois Democracy Schools/Digital Inquiry Group
Free DIG Professional Learning + Illinois PD Hours
The Illinois Democracy Schools (IDS) Network is partnering with the Digital Inquiry Group (DIG) to offer Illinois educators PD hours for participating in DIG’s free webinars and asynchronous online courses this fall.
Participate in an eligible DIG learning opportunity, complete a brief reflection connecting your learning to practice, and earn Illinois PD hours—at no cost.
Learn with DIG. Reflect on your practice. Earn Illinois PD hours.
One-Hour Webinars
- Thursday, October 15, 6-7 PM Beyond the Bubble- Session 2
- Thursday, October 29, 6-7 PM Reading Like a Historian with Digital Literacy- Session 2
Other FREE Professional Development Opportunities
Bill of Rights Institute
- October 13 at 6 PM: Teaching Research and Writing with BRI Primary Sources
- October 21 at 6 PM: Building the National Civics Bee Unit
Echoes and Reflections
- November 2-29: Teaching About Antisemitism After the Holocaust (7-10 credits)
- November 9-22: How We Remember: The Legacy of the Holocaust Today (4 hours)
- October 14 at 3 PM: Uprising at Sobibor
- October 19 at 3 PM: The Conspiracy Theory of Antisemitism
- October 28 at 3 PM: Living & Surviving in the Jewish Partisans
Facing History and Ourselves
- October 27, 2026 6 PM – 7:30 PM CT: Resource Rodeo: Classroom-Ready Media Literacy for Grades 6-12