As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, Ball State University’s
Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL) is expanding the nationally recognized
CREATE project into CREATE250: Expanding the Civic Promise for All.
Supported by a $1.76 million U.S. Department of Education grant, CREATE250 will
bring high-quality American history and civics learning to Title I schools across Indiana
through intensive seminars, field-based learning, and a statewide community of practice.

This special newsletter highlights: (I) CREATE news and updates, including the launch of
CREATE250 and a recap of the 2025 Summer Civic Learning Academy; (II) opportunities for teachers
and students; and (III) featured classroom-ready civic education resources.

CREATE250 builds on the success of the original Civic Renewal through Education for Agency,
Tolerance, and Engagement (CREATE) partnership between Muncie Community Schools and Ball
State University. The new initiative will deepen our collaboration with Muncie while expanding to
a statewide Community of Practice (CoP) that centers Title I schools and amplifies teacher
leadership in civic education. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

We are now recruiting up to 1,000 K–12 educators statewide over the life of the grant to
participate in CREATE250 seminars, the Summer Civic Learning Academy, and ongoing CoP
networks. Teachers may apply to one of two roles:

• CREATE250 Community of Practice (CoP) – A statewide civic learning network for Title I educators that includes monthly professional learning, collaborative curriculum design, and civic inquiry projects in local schools. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend for full participation and become eligible for an Emerson-funded, expenses-paid Washington, D.C. civic immersion experience. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• CREATE250 Mentor Teacher Cohort – A leadership-based role for experienced teachers who mentor colleagues, co-develop resources, and support project implementation. Mentor Teachers receive a $2,000 stipend, participate in advanced professional learning, and help shape Indiana’s civic infrastructure leading up to America’s Semiquincentennial. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

CREATE250 is led by Dr. David J. Roof (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Anand R. Marri
(Co-PI, Provost), and is grounded in evidence-based professional development that has already
demonstrated substantial gains in civic knowledge and dispositions among students in Muncie
Community Schools. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Apply to CREATE250 by January 15, 2026

Eligibility: Priority is given to teachers in Indiana Title I schools who teach grades 4–12
social studies, civics, U.S. history, government, or related disciplines, including interdisciplinary
educators who integrate civics and civic identity across the curriculum.

From June 16–20, 2025, the Center for Economic and Civic Learning and Muncie Community Schools
hosted the Summer Civic Learning Academy (SCLA) at Ball State’s L.A. Pittenger Student Center.
The Academy convened 30 K–12 teachers from across Muncie and neighboring districts for a
week-long, interdisciplinary experience focused on civic engagement, media literacy, local history,
and student voice.

Participating teachers engaged in sessions on:

• Indiana Historical Society and Statehouse learning – Field-based experiences exploring primary sources, state government, and the evolution of civic institutions.
• Historic site visits – Activities at sites such as the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site that connected national narratives to Indiana’s civic history.
• We the People curriculum & mock trial – Workshops led by the Indiana Bar Foundation that modeled constitutional literacy, civil discourse, and applied civic reasoning. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Media literacy and local history – Sessions on critical consumption of news, analysis of local media archives, and integration of Muncie’s civic past into contemporary classrooms.

Evaluation results show significant knowledge gains across core civics domains:

• Teachers’ combined civic content knowledge scores increased with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.95), with statistically significant gains across all measured areas (U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, U.S. government, geography, media literacy, Indiana and local history). :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
• Post-assessment averages for knowledge in 7 of 8 content areas reached “very knowledgeable” (3.4 or higher on a 5-point scale), up from just one area at baseline. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• Teachers’ confidence in connecting civics to literacy, discussing sensitive topics, sharing civic strategies with colleagues, and improving achievement for low-income and underrepresented students all increased significantly, with moderate to large effect sizes (d = 0.55 to 0.90). :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Teachers described SCLA as both intellectually rigorous and practically grounded. One participant
reflected:

“Hearing the students made it clear—this isn’t just a simulation. It’s a launchpad for future civic leaders.”

Another teacher noted that the Academy offered “useful knowledge that was beneficial to all instructors
regardless of the subject matter they teach” and that its lessons could be “readily incorporated” into
classroom practice.

Under CREATE250, the Summer Civic Learning Academy will become a centerpiece of our statewide
professional development strategy, offering Title I educators sustained, evidence-based support in
American history, civics, government, and geography.

The Center for Economic and Civic Learning, in partnership with the College of Fine Arts and the
School of Art, invites educators, students, and community partners to the
2025 Conference on Civic Studies and Democracy, held
September 25–27, 2025, at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center at Ball State University. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

This year’s theme, “Character, Aesthetics, and Community: The Interplay Between Community, Art,
Politics, and Civic Identity,” explores how artistic practice and civic life intersect to shape our
shared democratic culture. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

• Fred Meyer Lecture & Keynote: Michael Greer will offer the annual Fred Meyer Lecture on cultural policy and arts advocacy, highlighting how arts and culture foster civic identity and community cohesion, followed by an audience Q&A. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
• Awards Ceremony: The conference will recognize civic leaders whose work exemplifies civic engagement, cultural leadership, and democratic renewal in Indiana communities and beyond. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
• Breakout Sessions: Educators and community partners will explore topics such as civic arts hubs, public media and civic storytelling, education and civic engagement, and the role of public art in shaping civic memory and identity. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

CREATE250 participants will be encouraged to present classroom projects, student work, and CoP
initiatives as part of the conference’s educator-focused sessions and poster showcases.

Learn More about the 2025 Conference

• Summer Civic Learning Academy (SCLA) – CREATE250 Edition: Expanded statewide participation for Title I teachers, integrating primary-source based inquiry, media literacy, and local/Indiana history. Participants receive stipends for full participation and become eligible for CREATE250 America250 events.
• CREATE Civic Badge Program: A micro-credential recognizing educators who complete a sequence of civic-focused professional learning and implement evidence-based civic instruction in their classrooms.
• We the People & Mock Trial Institutes: Collaborations with the Indiana Bar Foundation that provide content-rich PD in constitutional literacy, civil discourse, and applied civics, aligned with Indiana’s middle school civics requirement.
• Regional CoP Gatherings: CREATE250 will host regional meet-ups and virtual sessions for CoP and Mentor Teacher participants to share lessons, co-design projects, and plan America250 civic showcases in their communities.

• Youth & Government and Civic Simulations: Support for delegation-based programs where students assume the roles of legislators, attorneys, justices, lobbyists, and journalists, culminating in simulated sessions at the Indiana Statehouse. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
• Civics Days and School-Based Civic Showcases: Guidance and mini-grants for school-wide events that bring together guest speakers, service projects, and student-led presentations on civic issues, modeled on Civics Day at Muncie Central High School.
• Field-Based Learning: Support for visits to sites such as Conner Prairie, the Indiana Historical Society, and state and local government institutions, connecting classroom learning to lived civic experiences.

CREATE250 is committed to providing educators with practical, research-based resources that
support rich discussion, primary-source analysis, and student-led inquiry. The following featured
tools are designed to be adaptable across grade levels and content areas:

• Foundational Text Inquiry Packets – Lesson-ready resources built around the
  Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and key Federalist and
  Anti-Federalist writings. Each packet includes guiding questions, short primary-source excerpts,
  and discussion protocols aligned with Indiana social studies standards and America250 themes.
• Local & Indiana History Story Maps – Adaptable activities that use maps and local
  case studies—such as Muncie’s civil rights history, women’s suffrage, and civic activism—to help
  students see their communities as “living classrooms” of democratic practice.
• Media Literacy & Civic Reasoning Modules – Short, spiraled lessons that help students
  evaluate sources, recognize misinformation, and practice evidence-based argumentation in
  connection with current civic issues.
• Community-Based Civic Project Templates – Step-by-step guides that support student
  projects such as community needs and assets assessments, public forums, youth advisory
  councils, and partnerships with local organizations.
• America250 Classroom Toolkit – A curated set of activities to help teachers and students
  mark the Semiquincentennial (2025–2028), including commemorative projects, reflection prompts
  on the promises and challenges of American democracy, and opportunities to contribute to the
  CREATE250 statewide civic learning showcase.

Access CREATE & CREATE250 Resources

Many of these resources will be made available free of charge to educators in Indiana Title I schools,
with additional coaching and implementation support for CREATE250 CoP and Mentor Teacher
participants.

Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL)
Teachers College • Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

For questions about CREATE250 or the application process, contact
Dr. David J. Roof at djroof@bsu.edu.

You are receiving this newsletter because of your participation or interest in CREATE, CREATE250,
or civic education initiatives at Ball State University. To update your subscription preferences,
please contact the CECL team.