As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the America 250 CT Commission has called for a renewal of civic engagement and democracy.
The State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement, which Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed this week, provides a tangible, lasting legacy for this milestone year. As the lead bill sponsor for the policy provisions that created the Connecticut Civic Seal program and the Executive Director of Generation Citizen’s New England region, we are thrilled to see our state make a step in the right direction for its students. We also celebrate the cross-organizational teamwork of leading organizations like the Connecticut Democracy Center, CivXNow, and other longstanding champions of civics education whose advocacy helped make this bill’s passage possible.
Why does a civic seal matter for Connecticut students and schools? We’re glad you asked. Connecticut is currently facing a civics crisis. At a time of deep hyperpolarization and digital misinformation, our students are navigating a complex world without the tools they need for productive civil discourse and community problem solving.
To address this challenge, we need an educational response, grounded in research and best practices, that prepares Connecticut students to graduate into knowledgeable, participatory citizenship. The Civics Seal meets this challenge. Starting in Academic Year 2026-2027, school boards will be eligible to place a Civics Seal on eligible high school graduates’ diplomas to signify that they achieved high proficiency in civics education and engagement.
The civic seal promotes “reflective patriotism”—a deep appreciation for our democratic institutions coupled with a clear-eyed commitment to living up to our highest ideals. By focusing on shared decision-making and practical local problem-solving, the Seal helps depoliticize civic education. It moves the focus away from national culture wars and toward the practical work of being a “good neighbor” and community member.
The civic seal, moreover, can help close the empowerment gap. Research shows that students in low-income schools are 30% less likely to participate in debates or community-based learning. The Seal incentivizes participating districts to provide high-quality civic opportunities for all students, regardless of their zip code. Importantly, this program operates on an opt-in, rather than required basis for districts. This approach enables districts to enjoy both flexibility in designing experiential civic learning that meets local community needs and to use mastery-based assessments like portfolios to ensure that civic knowledge and civic practice are cultivated in Connecticut’s students.
This bill isn’t simply another piece of legislation. It’s a legacy building policy that establishes a cornerstone for emerging student leaders who can help build consensus across lines of difference, collaborate with their peers, and solve the challenges of a 21st century economy and democracy.
Additionally, this bill represents the power of research and best practices driving cross-partisan legislation. Prior to the 2026 session, the General Assembly convened a nonpartisan Civic Education, Civic Engagement, and Media Literacy Task Force that articulated a set of common sense priorities to guide what became the civic seal. This process of research, informing policy design, informing advocacy, is replicable across other states in different regions of the country.
With the passage of the Civic Seal program, Connecticut has made a pivotal investment in its long-term civic health. The next steps include developing implementation criteria with the state Department of Education and ensuring that the voices of educators, students, and families can help shape access to and assessment of the seal program.
Our democracy requires more than just “studying” history —it requires the “practice” of democracy. We look forward to collaborating with diverse stakeholders, in every region of the state, to incentivize the development of civic knowledge and practice. Doing so will help make informed participation in Connecticut’s public life within the reach of all of its students.
State Rep. Kevin Brown is the author of the provisions in SB 298 that created Connecticut’s State Seal of Civic Engagement. Kristina Pires is Generation Citizen’s Executive Director of the New England region.