Help Middle School Students Speak Up on Issues That Matter: The National Civics Bee®

Middle school students notice more than we often expect.

They see problems in their neighborhoods, schools, and towns — from unsafe parks to overcrowded buses to issues affecting their families and friends. Many already have ideas about what could be better. What they often lack is a chance to explore those ideas in a meaningful way.

The National Civics Bee® gives students that opportunity. It invites them to take what they observe in their own communities and turn it into thoughtful civic engagement — connecting classroom learning to the real world.

From ideas to impact: how the National Civics Bee works

The National Civics Bee is open to U.S. students in grades 6–8 and is designed to help young people understand how civic participation works — starting at the local level and expanding outward.

Students begin by identifying a real issue in their community and developing a written proposal that explains:

• Why the issue matters
• What they’ve learned through research
• How they would address the problem

From there, students may advance to state competitions, where they present their ideas and respond to questions. Top students from each state move on to the national finals, where they showcase their civic knowledge, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities on a national stage.

🗓️ Deadline to enter: February 3, 2025

Apply here!

Why this experience matters for students

Participating in the National Civics Bee helps students see that civics isn’t abstract — it’s something they can practice right now.

Through the competition, students:

• Build confidence expressing ideas about issues they care about
• Strengthen writing, research, and critical thinking skills
• Learn how civic participation can begin locally and grow

For many students, this experience makes civic engagement feel possible, relevant, and empowering.

“The National Civics Bee was a great opportunity to raise awareness about my idea.” — Aarit, Ohio, 2025 National Civics Bee Champion

A powerful incentive: $100,000 for future education

In addition to recognition and leadership experience, the National Civics Bee offers a grand prize of $100,000, awarded toward future educational purposes.

For students, this adds meaningful motivation — and reinforces that their ideas, effort, and civic engagement truly matter.

Extra encouragement for students

To help encourage participation, students who register for the National Civics Bee may also be entered into a Khan Academy giveaway for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card, simply for taking part.

How to enter the giveaway:

1. Submit a National Civics Bee application
2. Upload a screenshot of the submission through the giveaway portal

Enter the Khan Academy Giveaway

For teachers: tools to support student voice

Teachers who want to support students participating in the National Civics Bee® can use the free Educator Toolkit, which includes:

• Essay prompts
• A shared rubric
• Guidance to help students understand expectations

The toolkit is optional and flexible, whether students are writing independently or as part of a class.

Download the Educator Toolkit