{"id":44,"date":"2023-03-17T13:06:34","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T17:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bsu.edu\/civics\/?page_id=44"},"modified":"2026-02-19T10:31:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T15:31:46","slug":"create","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bsu.edu\/civics\/create\/","title":{"rendered":"CREATE250"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n \"CREATE250:\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

CREATE250<\/strong> (Expanding the Civic Promise for All<\/em>) is Ball State University\u2019s 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<\/strong> (Civic Renewal through Education for Agency, Tolerance, and Engagement<\/em>)\u2014a three-year project that concluded in September 2025<\/strong>\u2014CREATE250 expands the work statewide as Indiana and the nation prepare for America\u2019s Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary)<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Purpose and Rationale<\/h2>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

Civic learning is not just a course requirement\u2014it’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:<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

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  • Civic knowledge<\/strong>: constitutional principles, American political development, government structures, and geography<\/li>\r\n
  • Civic skills<\/strong>: inquiry with primary sources, media literacy, deliberation across differences, and collaborative problem-solving<\/li>\r\n
  • Civic dispositions<\/strong>: responsibility, curiosity, civic confidence, and commitment to the common good<\/li>\r\n <\/ul>\r\n \r\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    From CREATE to CREATE250<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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<\/strong> serving educators in Title I schools<\/strong> across Indiana.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    What CREATE250 Is<\/h3>\r\n \r\n \r\n

    A three-year initiative designed to prepare teachers and students for America250 through primary-source civic inquiry, deliberative pedagogy, and place-based learning\u2014supported by a statewide professional network and measurable learning outcomes.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div><\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

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    Who It Serves<\/h3>\r\n \r\n \r\n

    Educators (and the students they reach) in high-need contexts\u2014especially Title I schools\u2014who deserve consistent access to rigorous, engaging, and nonpartisan civic learning grounded in America\u2019s constitutional tradition.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div><\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Core Components of CREATE250<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    CREATE250 is organized around a set of mutually reinforcing components designed to build lasting civic infrastructure in schools and communities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    1) Statewide Community of Practice (CoP)<\/h3>\r\n \r\n \r\n

    A sustained professional learning network that connects educators across Indiana for shared study, collaborative planning, and classroom-ready implementation\u2014strengthening civic instruction year over year.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div><\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

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    2) Evidence-Based Seminars & Book Studies<\/h3>\r\n \r\n \r\n

    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\u2019 confidence and content mastery.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div><\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    3) Summer Civic Learning Academy \/ Conference<\/h3>\r\n \r\n \r\n

    An immersive summer learning experience that models inquiry-driven civics and history instruction and helps educators translate high-quality content into engaging classroom practice.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div><\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

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    4) Experiential & Place-Based Learning<\/h3>\r\n \r\n \r\n

    Field-based historical learning experiences that connect civic concepts to lived places and public memory\u2014strengthening teachers\u2019 and students\u2019 ability to engage the American story with depth, evidence, and empathy.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div><\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    5) Teacher-Led Civic Inquiry Projects<\/h3>\r\n \r\n \r\n

    Support for teacher-initiated, student-designed projects that bring civics to life through local questions, community problem-solving, and constructive engagement across differences.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div><\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

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    6) Civic Learning Repository & Resource Hub<\/h3>\r\n \r\n \r\n

    A curated collection of standards-aligned lesson resources and professional learning materials that support civics, U.S. history, government, geography, and media literacy\u2014designed for practical classroom use.<\/p>\r\n \r\n <\/div><\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    Looking Ahead: A Statewide Semiquincentennial Celebration<\/h2>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

    CREATE250 will culminate in a landmark statewide celebration of America250\u2014bringing together teachers, students, and community partners to showcase civic inquiry, historical learning, and the democratic practices that sustain a constitutional republic.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

    Image placeholder:<\/strong> Insert event photos here (teacher seminars, student showcases, field experiences, symposium highlights).<\/p>\r\n \r\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Why This Matters Now<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    National data continue to show that only about one-quarter of U.S. eighth graders perform at or above \u201cProficient\u201d in civics. CREATE250 responds by strengthening teacher practice and student learning through sustained, evidence-based civic education\u2014especially in under-resourced communities\u2014so more young people can participate thoughtfully and confidently in democratic life.<\/p>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    CREATE250 (Expanding the Civic Promise for All) is Ball State University\u2019s 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)\u2014a three-year project that concluded in September 2025\u2014CREATE250 expands the work statewide as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":966,"featured_media":1193,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-44","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nCREATE250 - Center for Economic and Civic Learning<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bsu.edu\/academics\/collegesanddepartments\/educational-studies\/academic-programs\/create\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CREATE250 - Center for Economic and Civic Learning\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"CREATE250 (Expanding the Civic Promise for All) is Ball State University\u2019s next-generation, three-year civic education initiative housed in the Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL). 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