WHEN: Tuesdays, from January 20 - May 5
TIME: 2:30 - 3:25 PM Eastern / 1:30 PM Central / 12:30 PM Mountain / 11:30AM Pacific
WHERE: Via Zoom (link will be provided)
COST: $300 up front / $22 weekly starting on enrollment
Civics for Democracy
You want your student to understand how American government really works—not just memorize facts for a test. But with so much noise in today’s world, it’s hard for young people to sort out opinions from principles, or to see how the Constitution still shapes the decisions they see in the news every day.Students need a clear framework for understanding democracy—one they can use for the rest of their lives.
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Civics for Democracy is an online high school course designed specifically for homeschoolers who want a meaningful, engaging, and rigorous civics education. This course doesn’t just teach the branches of government or the steps of an election. It gives students a guiding structure based on the six fundamental concepts that make American democracy work:
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Limited Government
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Popular Sovereignty
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Checks & Balances
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Federalism
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Equal Justice & Individual Rights
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Civic Participation
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In this class, students learn that government isn’t just a set of institutions—it’s a system built on ideas. I help students make sense of everything from the writing of the Constitution to today’s political debates using these six essential principles. Throughout the semester, we’ll explore:
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The global history of democracy
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The debates and compromises behind the writing of the Constitution
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The structure and purpose of the three branches of government
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Federalism and the distribution of local, state, and national power
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How campaigns, elections, and political parties shape civic life
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How rights, responsibilities, and participation define citizenship
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We will finish the semester with a Harvard-created case study that brings together history, government, voting behavior, and democratic decision-making.
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Enroll your student in Civics for Democracy so they can gain the skills and confidence they need to understand, analyze, and participate in American civic life. By the end of this course, your student will have a strong understanding of how democracy works, why it matters, and how they can make informed decisions as future voters and citizens. They’ll leave not just knowing the facts—but knowing how to think like a citizen in a democracy.
Ready to enroll? Click the button below, which will take you to the enrollment form.
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Course Details
Ages: 14 - 18
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Class Size: 3 - 12 students
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Schedule: Tuesday, January 20 - Tuesday, May 5 (no class on March 17)
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Sequence:
Week 1: Introduction and the six big concepts in the Constitution
Week 2: Where did these ideas come from - welcome to the Enlightenment
Week 3: Orientation to the Constitution - what does the structure tell us?
Week 4: What are rights? Natural rights, constitutional rights, civil rights and civil liberties
Week 5: The Legislative Branch - structure and leadership; implied versus enumerated powers
Week 6: The Legislative Branch - how laws are made
Week 7: Congressional Elections and Barriers to Representation
Week 8: Presidential Elections and the Electoral College
Week 9: The Executive Branch: Power and the Bureaucracy
Week 10: The Judicial Branch: Structure and Power
Week 11: The Judicial Branch: Landmark Courses
Week 12: Federalism Yesterday and Today
Week 13: Civil Discourse and Civic Participation / Case Study: The Australian Ballot
Week 14: Case Study: The Australian Ballot
Week 15: Study: The Australian Ballot / Final Projects Due
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Homework: Students can expect to spend 1-2 hours outside of class during weeks 1-12. Reading and work for the case study will take longer. Students are expected to do work in advance of class to prepare for class discussions. The work a student does to prepare for class directly impacts how much they learn from the class.
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Required Texts or Materials: There are no required texts for this course. All information will be provided in the classroom. Students must be able to access the Google classroom and be able to read or watch assigned information. Homework assignments will come from reputable academic or news sources including The National Constitution Center, The National Archives, The Smithsonian Institution, The Brookings Institute, iCivics, the Council on Foreign Relations, PBS Learning Media, The Crash Course, The Bill of Rights Institute, and the Harvard Business School Case Method Project.
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Grades: Students may opt to take the class for a grade. Grades will be based on class participation (30%), weekly written reflections and homework (40%), and a final project or paper based on the case study (30%).
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Communication: Google Classroom will be our central home base for the course. All class communication, assignments, due dates, and grades will be posted there in an organized, easy-to-navigate space. Students will receive announcements, guided outlines for class, homework and other class materials, submit their work, and see feedback from the teacher—all in one place. An invitation to the classroom will be sent to enrolled learners.
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Class Meetings: All meetings will occur via Zoom. Enrolled students will be sent the zoom link in advance via Google Classroom communication. Class meetings will be recorded and stored for 30 days in case a student misses class. Recordings are for the sole use of enrolled students and may not be downloaded or shared outside the class.
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Class Participation: While students are not required to have their cameras on during class, it is highly recommended that they do so to ensure that they get the most out of the class, and are focused on the discussion. Students can engage in the class via the voice or written chat. No student will be required to speak in class. Instead, I welcome many methods of communication.
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Learner Accomodations: All readings are accessible for eye or ear reading (via text to voice). All videos have available transcripts. Writing requirements can be modified per student needs. Please ask!
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What Is The Case Study? I completed training in the case study method in June 2025 and am excited to apply what I have learned to my own classes. The case study method is often associated with business schools, and is an in-depth study of a real life situation. Historian David Moss has used that methodology and applied it to real situations in history, giving students the opportunity to explore primary sources and to apply their knowledge to the situation with guidance from the teacher. We will be using the case study designed around the adoption of the Australian ballot, as part of a larger discussion on civic engagement and citizen participation in a democracy. This case study is accessible to all learners, even though the topic itself is advanced. Annotated and audio versions will be made available to students who need them.
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Ready to enroll? Click the button below, which will take you to the enrollment form.​