Legislative Scholar Program
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Registration for our 2023 Legislative Scholar Program is now​​​​​​​​​​​ closed!

​​​​​​​​​​​Registration for our 2024 Legislative Scholar Program will open on June 1st, 2024

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About the Legislative Scholar Program

The Legislative Scholar Program provides teachers from across Washington with an opportunity to learn firsthand about the state’s legislative process. The program is open to elementary, middle, and high school teachers, as well as paraeducators, and those pursuing their teaching degree. The goal is to equip teachers with lesson plans, resources, and ideas to teach civics more effectively in their classrooms. The program is a result of the Washington State Legislature's commitment to increasing civic knowledge and education about representative democracy in Washington. Participants are expected to receive 20+ clock hours.

Activities include:

  • Learning how the legislative, executive, and judicial branches interact
  • Sessions with legislators, judges, elected officials and others involved in state government
  • Resource sessions with public and non-profit civic education organizations
  • Developing lesson plans and classroom activities with other educators.


​Registration for the Legislative Scholar Program is free, and all program materials are provided. Programming is produced by the nonpartisan civic education offices of the Washington State Senate and House of Representative as a source of professional development and classroom resources for educators. The Washington State Legislature Civic Education Program is a certified clock hour provider. Due to the limitations of our platform, participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

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Register to be a Legislative Scholar 

Registration for our 2023 program is open now​! You'll receive a confirmation email once you complete your application. Please make sure to provide a phone number and an email address where you can be reliably reached during the summer.

Lesson Plans & Classroom Resources

The central goal of the Legislative Scholar Program is to help teachers develop a rich library of resources to integrate civics and citizenship into their classrooms. Throughout your week you will work on developing lesson plans and adapting your understanding of state government into classroom-focused activities and concrete learning objectives for students. Because civics is a hands-on, life-long practice, Legislative Scholars emphasizes simulations, critical thinking, civil discussion, and authentic learning in our approach. Over 15 years of Legislative Scholars have contributed to the lesson plans in our collection, and we always welcome ideas for more!

For more information please contact: 

House Civic Education Director Leo O'Leary at (360) 786-7889 or Leo.OLeary@leg.wa.gov 

Senate Civic Education Director Myra Hernandez (360) 786-7498 or Myra.Hernandez@leg.wa.gov​

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for photos and updates on past and current programs. Do you know someone who may be interested in becoming a Legislative Scholar? Share our Leg Scholars 2023 Flyer with them today!

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HIGHLIGHTS

"This program was highly recommended to me by the Seattle University Mast​ers in Teaching Program. It lived up to its reputation and surpassed my expectations. I learned more about government in one week than I have learned all my life."
-Jamie Carr, Graduate Student, Seattle University Masters in Teaching Program

 

"This program has given me the real world aspects of the legislature and the dynamics of the process. It brought the textbooks alive!"

-Raymond Gutierrez, Washington Middle School, Olympia​


"This week was an experience I'll never forget. I am so excited to get back into my classroom and share with my students how well our government officials work together. I feel that I have gained new knowledge and renewed my passion for civics; I want to pass this interest onto my students and get them involved in the legislative process."

- Jacqueline Marshall, Oroville Elementary, Oroville


"This is by far the best training I've had on government. It was so comprehensive, so detailed, and so useful to me as a classroom teacher that I will recommend it highly to my fellow teachers without hesitation."

- Anthony Long, A.C. Davis High School, Yakima



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