CREATE250 (Expanding the Civic Promise for All) is Ball State University’s next-generation, three-year civic education initiative housed in the Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL). Building on the nationally recognized success of CREATE (Civic Renewal through Education for Agency, Tolerance, and Engagement)—a three-year project that concluded in September 2025—CREATE250 expands the work statewide as Indiana and the nation prepare for America’s Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary).
Purpose and Rationale
Civic learning is not just a course requirement—it’s the foundation of democratic self-governance. CREATE250 strengthens civics and U.S. history instruction through evidence-based professional learning that helps educators guide students toward:
- Civic knowledge: constitutional principles, American political development, government structures, and geography
- Civic skills: inquiry with primary sources, media literacy, deliberation across differences, and collaborative problem-solving
- Civic dispositions: responsibility, curiosity, civic confidence, and commitment to the common good
From CREATE to CREATE250
CREATE demonstrated what is possible when educators receive sustained, content-rich support in civics. In one partner district, elementary civics proficiency improved dramatically over the life of the project. CREATE250 now scales that momentum by deepening the Muncie Community Schools partnership and expanding to a statewide Community of Practice serving educators in Title I schools across Indiana.
What CREATE250 Is
A three-year initiative designed to prepare teachers and students for America250 through primary-source civic inquiry, deliberative pedagogy, and place-based learning—supported by a statewide professional network and measurable learning outcomes.
Who It Serves
Educators (and the students they reach) in high-need contexts—especially Title I schools—who deserve consistent access to rigorous, engaging, and nonpartisan civic learning grounded in America’s constitutional tradition.
Core Components of CREATE250
CREATE250 is organized around a set of mutually reinforcing components designed to build lasting civic infrastructure in schools and communities.
1) Statewide Community of Practice (CoP)
A sustained professional learning network that connects educators across Indiana for shared study, collaborative planning, and classroom-ready implementation—strengthening civic instruction year over year.
2) Evidence-Based Seminars & Book Studies
Seminar-style learning grounded in foundational texts and primary sources (e.g., Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights), combined with structured discussion that strengthens teachers’ confidence and content mastery.
3) Summer Civic Learning Academy / Conference
An immersive summer learning experience that models inquiry-driven civics and history instruction and helps educators translate high-quality content into engaging classroom practice.
4) Experiential & Place-Based Learning
Field-based historical learning experiences that connect civic concepts to lived places and public memory—strengthening teachers’ and students’ ability to engage the American story with depth, evidence, and empathy.
5) Teacher-Led Civic Inquiry Projects
Support for teacher-initiated, student-designed projects that bring civics to life through local questions, community problem-solving, and constructive engagement across differences.
6) Civic Learning Repository & Resource Hub
A curated collection of standards-aligned lesson resources and professional learning materials that support civics, U.S. history, government, geography, and media literacy—designed for practical classroom use.
Looking Ahead: A Statewide Semiquincentennial Celebration
CREATE250 will culminate in a landmark statewide celebration of America250—bringing together teachers, students, and community partners to showcase civic inquiry, historical learning, and the democratic practices that sustain a constitutional republic.
Image placeholder: Insert event photos here (teacher seminars, student showcases, field experiences, symposium highlights).
Why This Matters Now
National data continue to show that only about one-quarter of U.S. eighth graders perform at or above “Proficient” in civics. CREATE250 responds by strengthening teacher practice and student learning through sustained, evidence-based civic education—especially in under-resourced communities—so more young people can participate thoughtfully and confidently in democratic life.