Dear Democratic Citizenship in Education Colleagues! 

We are excited for another year of conversation and supporting each others’ work in a crucial endeavor. These are challenging times for democratic citizenship education. When I began this work as a graduate student in the times of No Child Left Behind, the struggle was a lack of interest in and support for civic education. 

We’ve made significant progress in restoring and rebuilding the field over the past few decades. And yet the challenges we meet feel more significant today as educators grapple with a political context where they are targeted for acknowledging structural racism and embracing principles of equity and social justice. Students are learning about the principles of democracy in contexts where laws and policies may be actively working to deny their rights and humanity.

In line with the AERA 2027 theme, Transcending Borders and Boundaries in Education Research: Toward a Beloved Global Community, we invite SIG members to submit proposals that tackle these challenges we are facing for democratic education and point to possibilities for education in and out of school that support healing and democratic renewal. 

Leadership Updates

Thank you outgoing Program Chair Erica Hodgin!

Our team this year includes:

• Ellen Middaugh, SIG Chair, Interim Associate Dean, Lurie College of Education, San José State University
• Marta Estélles, SIG Program Chair, Senior Lecturer, Te Kura Toi Tangata School of Education, University of Waikato 
•  Hillary Parkhouse, SIG Secretary and Treasurer, Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning, Virginia Commonwealth University as 

Upcoming Priorities

We look forward to working with the Democratic Citizenship in Education community this coming year. We plan to continue with the initiatives of expanding opportunities for recognition and support for early career scholars. We hope to expand professional development and mentoring opportunities for our SIG members as well as to investigate additional awards for outstanding work. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out with ideas for the SIG at ellen.middaugh@sjsu.edu.