Illinois Democracy Schools Recognition Program

Celebrate What’s Working. Grow What’s Possible.

The Illinois Democracy Schools (IDS) Recognition Program celebrates schools that are committed to preparing students for informed, engaged participation in our democracy.

Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, IDS is expanding its recognition process to include middle schools and junior high schools, creating new opportunities for educators to build a strong foundation for civic learning before students enter high school.

The IDS Recognition Program is not simply a social studies initiative. It is a schoolwide process that invites educators and staff from across disciplines and roles to reflect on how their school supports student voice, inquiry, civic knowledge, discussion, and meaningful opportunities for students to participate in their school and community.

Why Become an Illinois Democracy School?

Becoming an Illinois Democracy School means joining a statewide movement committed to preparing students for college, career, and civic life—while strengthening the work your school is already doing.

Connect the Dots Across Your School’s Priorities

Get a customized dashboard that connects your civic learning data to the work already happening in your school. See how civic learning aligns with initiatives such as WIDA, literacy, Danielson, workforce readiness, MTSS, SEL, and school improvement—helping your team identify strengths, uncover opportunities, and make strategic decisions without adding another silo.

Celebrate the Work You’re Already Doing

The IDS recognition process helps your school identify and celebrate existing practices that support student voice, inquiry, agency, belonging, and civic learning across the school community.

Get Personalized Support for Growth

Receive data-informed feedback, coaching, professional learning, and resources tailored to your school’s strengths and areas for growth.

Strengthen Student Voice & Agency

Create more opportunities for students to ask questions, engage with real-world issues, participate in meaningful discussions, make decisions, lead, and take action.

Support Educators Across the School

IDS is not just a social studies initiative. Engage educators and staff across disciplines and roles in building a schoolwide culture of inquiry, civil discourse, participation, and excellence for all.

Connect With a Statewide Network

Join a growing network of Illinois Democracy Schools where educators can share practices, learn from one another, and collaborate to strengthen civic learning across Illinois.

Invest in Professional Learning

Access professional learning, micro-credentials, CEU/PD opportunities, and facilitated planning support to help turn insights into action.

Celebrate Your Achievement

Gain recognition as a school committed to preparing students for college, career, and civic life and making democracy a lived experience for students every day.

How the IDS Recognition Process Works

Schools do not need to start from scratch. The recognition process is designed to celebrate the civic learning already happening in a school community while helping educators identify opportunities to strengthen and expand that work.

Through the process, school teams:

• Reflect on current civic learning practices and schoolwide conditions that support student civic development.
• Celebrate the work educators and students are already doing to foster civic knowledge, skills, dispositions, and engagement.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen civic learning across classrooms and throughout the school community.
• Engage educators across disciplines and roles, recognizing that civic learning is a shared responsibility.
• Develop and implement action steps that respond to the school’s unique strengths, needs, and goals.
• Document and share evidence of practice as part of the IDS recognition process.

What Does an IDS-Recognized School Look Like?

An IDS-recognized school demonstrates a commitment to creating a school environment where students have meaningful opportunities to:

Learn

Build the knowledge and skills needed to understand government, current issues, communities, and democratic institutions.

Inquire

Ask questions, investigate issues, evaluate information and evidence, and make informed judgments.

Discuss

Engage in thoughtful dialogue across differences, listen to multiple perspectives, and participate in productive civic discourse.

Have Voice

Contribute their ideas, perspectives, and questions to their learning and school community.

Participate

Practice civic skills by taking meaningful action in their classrooms, school, community, and beyond.

A Schoolwide Commitment

IDS recognizes that strong civic learning extends beyond a single classroom or course. A school’s culture, instructional practices, opportunities for student voice, and connections to the broader community all contribute to students’ civic development.

For this reason, the recognition process brings together a school team representing multiple disciplines and roles. Teams work collaboratively to examine their existing practices, identify areas of strength, and determine where additional support or growth would be most meaningful.

Support Along the Way

Schools participating in the IDS Recognition Program are not expected to navigate the process alone. IDS provides resources, guidance, professional learning, and opportunities to learn alongside other educators engaged in this work.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is progress.

Whether a school is beginning to develop a more intentional approach to civic learning or already has strong practices in place, the IDS Recognition Program provides a framework for reflection, collaboration, and continued growth.

Join the Illinois Democracy Schools Network

By participating in the IDS Recognition Program, schools become part of a statewide network of educators committed to strengthening civic learning and preparing Illinois students for active participation in our democracy.

Learn more about the recognition process, explore available supports, and connect with IDS to get started.

Contact Mary Ellen Daneels at medaneels@civicmissionschools.org for more information.