2025 PA Civics Educator Forum
Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary in Pennsylvania’s Classrooms
On September 30, 2025, PA Civics is proud to host its next professional development forum for educators, this time in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This year's theme: “Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary in Pennsylvania’s Classrooms.”
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. With Pennsylvania being the epicenter for the country’s commemorations, this is a tremendous opportunity for teachers to bring resources and excitement to their classrooms throughout the 2025-26 school year.
The 2025 PA Civics Educator Forum will convene teachers for a series of day-long, high-quality professional development sessions for educators. Sessions will emphasize themes like “reflective patriotism,” honoring both civic knowledge and civic action, and how to fulfill the promises of the founding documents for all Americans over the next 250 years. Sessions, organized and presented by PA Civics' nonpartisan members and northeastern PA community partners, will span ideology. Teachers will leave the forum with resources they can use in the classroom the very next day.
Pennsylvania-based teachers will be given priority for registration. The forum will take place at Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit (IU-19) in Archbald, PA.
Forums are free for educators to attend and all teachers will receive Act 48 credits.
A regional model for professional development
The inaugural PA Civics Educator Forum in Philadelphia in 2024 welcomed nearly 60 teachers. It was followed by a forum in western Pennsylvania in February 2025, sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. PA Civics will continue hosting forums across the Commonwealth, allowing teachers to network with other educators who can share best practices and ideas.
A focus on civics content for civics educators at all levels
Forum sessions feature PA Civics coalition partners with a wide range of expertise in civics education. Sessions focus on the three pillars of a quality civic education: knowledge, skills, and action. There are tracks for primary and secondary grade levels. We anticipate publishing the session list and descriptions in mid-August.
The forum will provide attendees with resources they can bring back to their schools to use immediately.
We invite you to join this effort by making a tax-deductible donation to support the PA Civics Educator Forum. Your support will cover location rental fees, promotion, scholarships for attendees, and material production.
Contact Justin Villere (jvillere@seventy.org) with any questions or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. Checks can be made payable to PA Civics’ lead partner and fiscal sponsor, Committee of Seventy, and mailed to 123 South Broad Street, Suite 2830, Philadelphia, PA 19109.