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The 2020–21 NBA season was the 75th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA), though the 75th anniversary was not celebrated until the following season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was reduced to 72 games for each team, and began on December 22, 2020. The season started just 72 days after the completion of the 2020 NBA Finals, the shortest off-season in league history. The 2021 NBA All-Star Game was played on March 7, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, and was won by Team LeBron, 170–150. A play-in tournament for teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference was held from May 18 to May 21. The playoffs then ran under the standard 16-team playoff format from May 22 to July 20, 2021. Due to COVID-19 cross-border restrictions imposed by the Canadian government, the Toronto Raptors played their 2020–21 home games at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

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Retirement
 On September 8, 2020, Marvin Williams announced his retirement from the NBA. Williams played for four teams during his 15-year NBA career.
 On September 14, 2020, Leandro Barbosa announced his retirement from the NBA. Barbosa played 14 seasons in the NBA, winning one championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.
 On October 24, 2020, Kevin Séraphin announced his retirement from the NBA. Séraphin played for three teams during his seven-year NBA career.
 On November 16, 2020, Corey Brewer announced his retirement from the NBA. Brewer played for 12 years in the NBA for eight teams, winning one championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
 On November 18, 2020, Dorell Wright announced his retirement from the NBA. Wright played for four teams during his 11-year NBA career, winning one championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.
 On November 25, 2020, Aaron Brooks announced his retirement from the NBA. Brooks played for seven teams during his 13-year NBA career.
 On November 30, 2020, Andrew Bogut announced his retirement from the NBA. Bogut played for five teams during his 14-year NBA career, winning one championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.
 On November 30, 2020, Evan Turner announced his retirement from the NBA. Turner played 10 seasons for five teams during his time in the NBA.
 On February 4, 2021, Lucas Nogueira announced his retirement from the NBA. Nogueira played for the Toronto Raptors for his entire four-year NBA career.
 On March 1, 2021, Joakim Noah announced his retirement from the NBA. Noah played for four teams during his 13-year NBA career. He was the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, and a two-time All-Star.
 On March 31, 2021, Thabo Sefolosha announced his retirement from the NBA. Sefolosha played for five teams during his 14-year NBA career.
 On April 15, 2021, LaMarcus Aldridge announced his retirement from the NBA as a result of heart issues and an irregular heartbeat after games. Aldridge played for three teams during his 15-year NBA career, and was a seven-time All-Star.
 On May 19, 2021, Jeremy Lin announced his retirement from the NBA. Lin played for eight teams during his nine-year NBA career, winning one championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

Free agency
Free agency negotiations were scheduled to begin on October 18, 2020, but that date was delayed. On November 9, it was announced that free agency would begin on November 20 at 6 p.m. ET, with signings permitted starting at 12 p.m. ET on November 22.

Coaching changes

Off-season
 On July 30, 2020, New York Knicks hired Tom Thibodeau as their new head coach.
 On August 14, 2020, the Chicago Bulls fired head coach Jim Boylen after two seasons.
 On August 15, 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Alvin Gentry after five seasons with the team.
 On August 24, 2020, the Philadelphia 76ers fired head coach Brett Brown after seven seasons with the team.
 On August 26, 2020, the Indiana Pacers fired head coach Nate McMillan after four seasons with the team.
 On September 3, 2020, the Brooklyn Nets hired Steve Nash as their new head coach.
 On September 8, 2020, the Oklahoma City Thunder and head coach Billy Donovan mutually agreed to part ways after five seasons.
 On September 13, 2020, Mike D'Antoni informed the Houston Rockets that he would not return as head coach after coaching the team for four seasons.
 On September 22, 2020, the Chicago Bulls hired Billy Donovan as their new head coach.
 On September 28, 2020, the Los Angeles Clippers and head coach Doc Rivers mutually agreed to part ways after seven seasons with the team.
 On October 3, 2020, the Philadelphia 76ers hired Doc Rivers as their new head coach.
 On October 20, 2020, the Indiana Pacers hired Nate Bjorkgren as their new head coach.
 On October 20, 2020, the Los Angeles Clippers promoted Tyronn Lue as their new head coach.
 On October 22, 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans hired Stan Van Gundy as their new head coach.
 On October 30, 2020, the Houston Rockets hired Stephen Silas as their new head coach.
 On November 11, 2020, the Oklahoma City Thunder promoted Mark Daigneault as their new head coach.

In-season
 On February 21, 2021, the Minnesota Timberwolves fired head coach Ryan Saunders after three seasons with the team.
 On February 22, 2021, the Minnesota Timberwolves hired Chris Finch as their new head coach.
 On March 1, 2021, the Atlanta Hawks fired head coach Lloyd Pierce after two seasons with the team, and named Nate McMillan as interim head coach.

Preseason
The COVID-19 pandemic in North America, which pushed the conclusion of the previous 2019–20 season and playoffs into the fall, had delayed the start date of training camp to November 10, 2020. The preseason began on December 11 and ended on December 19.

Regular season
The start of the 2020–21 regular season was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NBA initially set a target date of December 1, 2020, to start the regular season. However, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver suggested further delaying the season until at least January because local health orders at each NBA city would limit fan attendance. The NBA receives 40 percent of its revenue from attendance, and thus delaying the season until it is safer to let more fans into the arenas would ease the financial pain. The NBA also contemplated organizing the schedule such that teams would have less travel, with back-to-back games in the same cities against the same opponent. National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts suggested that the season might eventually have to begin within a "bubble" environment, similar to the 2020 playoffs.

On October 13, the NBA delayed the targeted start date of the regular season from December 2020 to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 18, 2021. Later in October, Sports Illustrated reported that the NBA was targeting December 22, 2020, as the first day of the season. On November 5, 2020, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) tentatively approved a 72-game regular season that began on December 22, 2020. The season featured a condensed schedule so that the NBA Finals could conclude by July 22, allowing NBA players to participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics; the Olympics were postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

On November 17, the NBA announced that the 72-game regular season would run from December 22 through May 16. Each team would play three games against each opponent from its own conference and two games against each interconference opponent. The season would include a six-day All-Star break from March 5 to 10. While the All-Star Game (which was originally scheduled for Indianapolis) was initially considered unlikely, the NBA announced in February that the 2021 NBA All-Star Game would be held in Atlanta on March 7, 2021. The schedule was released in two parts; the first half was released in early December, while the second half was released in the latter part of the first half.

It was the latest a season had started, and with the fewest games per team, since the 2011-12 season.  That season, each team played only 66 games starting on Christmas day; this was due to the aftermath of the 2011 NBA lockout.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

By conference

Notes
 z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
 c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
 y – Clinched division title
 x – Clinched playoff spot
 * – Division leader
 pi - Clinched play-in spot

Postponed games due to COVID-19
 December 23: Oklahoma City vs. Houston – At least three Houston players tested positive or inconclusive, four other players were quarantined after contact tracing, and James Harden was unavailable after violating health and safety protocols.
 January 10: Miami vs. Boston – Ongoing contact tracing with Miami caused Miami to not have the required minimum of eight players available for the game.
 January 11: New Orleans vs. Dallas
 January 12: Boston vs. Chicago
 January 13:
 Orlando vs. Boston – Due to testing and contact tracing, Boston did not have the required minimum of eight players available for the game.
 Utah vs. Washington – Washington did not have the required minimum of eight players available for the game.
 Atlanta vs. Phoenix – Phoenix did not have the required minimum of eight players available.
 January 15:
 Golden State vs. Phoenix – Phoenix continued to not have the required minimum of eight players available due to testing and contact tracing.
 Washington vs. Detroit – Washington continued to not have the required minimum of eight players available.
 Memphis vs. Minnesota – Minnesota did not have the required minimum of eight players.
 January 16: Indiana vs. Phoenix – Phoenix still did not have enough available players.
 January 17:
 Cleveland vs. Washington – Washington still did not have enough available players.
 Philadelphia vs. Oklahoma City – Philadelphia did not have enough available players due to ongoing contact tracing.
 January 18: Cleveland vs. Washington – Washington continued to not have enough players.
 January 20:
 Washington vs. Charlotte – Washington continued to not have enough players.
 Memphis vs. Portland – Memphis had an outbreak.
 January 22:
Washington vs. Milwaukee – Washington's sixth consecutive postponed game.
Memphis vs. Portland – Memphis did not have enough available players due to ongoing contact tracing.
January 24: Sacramento vs. Memphis – Memphis did not have enough available players due to ongoing contact tracing.
January 25:
Sacramento vs. Memphis – Memphis did not have enough available players due to ongoing contact tracing.
San Antonio vs. New Orleans – Neither team had enough available players due to ongoing contact tracing.
January 27: Chicago vs. Memphis – Memphis did not have enough available players due to ongoing contact tracing.
 February 1: Detroit vs. Denver – Detroit did not have enough players due to ongoing contact tracing.
 February 7: Portland vs. Charlotte – This game was moved to the second half of the season, allowing the Washington vs. Charlotte game that was originally scheduled on January 20 to be rescheduled on this day instead.
 February 16: San Antonio vs. Detroit – San Antonio did not have enough players due to ongoing contact tracing.
 February 17:
 San Antonio vs. Cleveland – San Antonio continued to not have enough players due to ongoing contact tracing.
 Chicago vs. Charlotte – Charlotte did not have enough players due to ongoing contact tracing.
 February 19: Detroit vs. Charlotte – Charlotte continued to be under COVID-19 protocol.
 February 20: San Antonio vs. New York – San Antonio continued to be under COVID-19 protocol.
 February 22: San Antonio vs. Indiana – San Antonio continued to be under COVID-19 protocol.
 February 28: Chicago vs. Toronto – Toronto had positive COVID-19 test results.

Postponed games due to other reasons
 February 17: Detroit vs. Dallas – Game postponed due to winter storm in Texas.
 February 19: Dallas vs. Houston – Game postponed due to winter storm in Texas.
 February 20: Indiana vs. Houston – Game postponed due to winter storm in Texas.
 April 12: Brooklyn vs. Minnesota – Game postponed due to feared unrest in response to the killing of Daunte Wright in nearby Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

All-Star Weekend

The 2021 NBA All-Star Game was played on March 7, 2021. Teams were captained by LeBron James and Kevin Durant, and Team LeBron won the game 170–150.

Play-in tournament

The NBA staged a play-in tournament for teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference from May 18 to May 21. The 7th place team hosted the 8th place team with the winner clinching the 7th seed in the playoffs. The 9th place team hosted the 10th place team with the loser being eliminated from playoff contention. The 7th–8th place game's loser then hosted the 9th–10th place game's winner, with the winner clinching the 8th seed and the loser being eliminated.

Eastern Conference Play-in

Western Conference Play-in

Playoffs

The playoffs began on May 22 and operated under the standard 16-team playoff format, with four rounds of best-of-seven series. The 2021 NBA Finals began on July 6 and concluded on July 20.

Bracket

Statistics

Individual statistic leaders

Individual game highs

Team statistic leaders

Awards

Yearly awards

All-NBA First Team:
 F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
 F Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
 C Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
 G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
 G Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks

All-NBA Second Team:
 F Julius Randle, New York Knicks
 F LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
 C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
 G Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
 G Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

All-NBA Third Team:
 F Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
 F Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
 C Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
 G Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
 G Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets

NBA All-Defensive First Team:
 F Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
 F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
 C Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
 G Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
 G Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks

NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
 F Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
 F Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
 C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
 G Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
 G Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers

NBA All-Rookie First Team:
 LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
 Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
 Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings
 Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons
 Jae'Sean Tate, Houston Rockets

NBA All-Rookie Second Team:
 Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks
 Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies
 Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
 Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
 Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls

Players of the Week
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.

Players of the Month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.

Rookies of the Month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.

Coaches of the Month
The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.

Uniforms
On July 21, 2020, the NBA and Nike announced that the "Statement Edition" uniforms would switch to the Air Jordan label.

Arenas
 The Denver Nuggets' home arena, formerly known as the Pepsi Center, was renamed Ball Arena on October 22, 2020.
 The Phoenix Suns' home arena, formerly known as Talking Stick Resort Arena, was renamed Footprint Center (previously Phoenix Suns Arena) after the naming rights deal expired on November 6, 2020 to July 16, 2021.

Temporary relocation of the Toronto Raptors to Tampa
As the NBA's plans for the 2020–21 season began to take shape, the Toronto Raptors were denied permission to play home games in Toronto as the Canadian federal government ruled that repeated cross-border trips by the Raptors and their opponents would be a major health risk due to the different levels of COVID-19 cases in the United States and Canada. This is similar to what happened to the Raptors' Major League Baseball counterpart, the Toronto Blue Jays, who were forced to play their 2020 home games in Buffalo.

After looking at several U.S. cities, the Raptors announced on November 20, 2020, that they would play their home games at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida during the 2020–21 season. This was the first time since 2007 an NBA team was temporarily displaced from their home city.

COVID-19 restrictions
By July 21, 2021, all teams except the Oklahoma City Thunder allowed spectators to attend home games. Only seven teams have played all of their games with spectators since the start of the season.

On February 10, 2021, Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would allow large sports venues to host spectators at 10% of their capacity beginning February 23, 2021, affecting the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks. All spectators must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the event, and may also be required to submit to a rapid test if their PCR test was within more than 48 hours of the event. In late-March, Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden announced that the testing requirement would be waived for spectators who are fully vaccinated (second dose received no fewer than 14 days prior to the event).

On April 2, Governor of California Gavin Newsom announced that the state will begin allowing indoor event and sports venues to resume operations on April 15. In regions under the "Substantial" (red) tier, capacity is capped at 20%, and all attendees are required to provide proof of a recent negative test or that they are fully vaccinated. In the "Moderate" (orange) tier, capacity is capped at 10%, but can be raised to 35% if all attendees are required to provide proof of a recent negative test, or that they are fully vaccinated.

Media
This is the fifth year of the current nine-year contracts with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV.

To reduce on-site staff, ESPN and TNT will leverage the home team's rightsholder as a host broadcaster for some of their games. They will send a neutral "world feed" and other camera feeds to the network, which will then add commentary and surrounding coverage. ESPN and TNT are also deploying additional cameras specific to their broadcasts, and ESPN may provide a supplemental on-site presence if the local broadcaster does not have enough capacity to support the host model. ESPN stated that some (roughly half) of their games, particularly marquee games exclusive to ESPN and ABC, would be produced on-site with an existing hybrid model (where some producers and graphics operators work from ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut). TNT also planned to begin doing some games on-site beginning with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

On December 26, 2020, it was announced that Fox Sports Networks had acquired rights to simulcast 36 Toronto Raptors games locally in the Tampa Bay area through at least the first half of the season. All of the games will be carried via the Fox Sports Go app, with selected games to also air on television via Fox Sports Sun (15) and Fox Sports Florida (2).

On March 31, 2021, the Fox Sports Networks rebranded as Bally Sports, as part of an agreement between majority-owner Sinclair Broadcast Group and casino operator Bally's Corporation.

Notable occurrences
 On May 13, 2020, the NBA announced that Spalding's partnership with the league as official game ball supplier would end after this season. The league signed an agreement with Wilson for the latter to return as the NBA's official ball brand that would take effect in the 2021–22 season. Spalding was the official supplier of game balls since the start of the 1983–84 season.
 On December 26, 2020, Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards became the fourth player to record triple-doubles in the first two games of a season. On December 29, he became the second player after Oscar Robertson to record triple-doubles in their first three games of a season.
 On December 27, 2020, the Dallas Mavericks recorded the largest ever halftime lead in a game, with a 50-point advantage over the Los Angeles Clippers (77–27).
 On December 27, 2020, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors became the third player ever to reach 2,500 career 3-pointers.
 On December 29, 2020, the Milwaukee Bucks set a new record for most three-point field goals made in a game with 29 against the Miami Heat, breaking the previous record of 27 set by the Houston Rockets on April 7, 2019.
 On December 30, 2020, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers became the first player to reach 1,000 consecutive regular season games with at least 10 points.
 On January 1, 2021, Carmelo Anthony of the Portland Trail Blazers passed Tim Duncan for 14th on the NBA all-time scoring list.
 On January 6, 2021, the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons took a knee for their first possessions in protest to the announcement that criminal charges would not be filed against police officers in the Jacob Blake shooting. The Bucks held the ball for seven seconds in reference to Blake's seven gunshots. Various teams linked arms at center court in unison during the anthem in response to the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.
 On January 7, 2021, Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat became the fastest player to reach 300 career three pointers. He made it in a span of only 95 games, surpassing both Luka Dončić's and Damian Lillard's previous record within 117 games.
 On January 8, 2021, the Toronto Raptors set a new franchise record for points in a single regular season game, scoring 144 points against the Sacramento Kings on the road.
 On January 9, 2021, LaMelo Ball posted a triple-double for the Charlotte Hornets against the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the youngest player ever to record a triple-double, at the age of 19 years and 140 days. He surpassed the previous record held by Markelle Fultz, who recorded a triple-double aged 19 years and 317 days.
 On January 16, 2021, James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets posted a triple-double against the Orlando Magic, becoming the seventh player to record a triple-double during his team debut.
 On January 20, 2021, Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks became the first player since Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 to record 25 points, 25 rebounds and 5 blocks in a single game, doing so against the Detroit Pistons.
 On January 20, 2021, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz became the fastest player to reach 600 three pointers. He did it in just 240 games, beating the previous record of 244 games set by Buddy Hield in 2019.
 On January 23, 2021, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors passed Reggie Miller for second place on the NBA all-time three point list.
 On January 29, 2021, Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards passed Maurice Cheeks for 13th place on the NBA all-time assist list.
 On January 29, 2021, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks became the fastest player to reach 400 career three pointers doing it in 159 games, surpassing the previous total of 163 games set by Damian Lillard.
 On February 2, 2021, Carmelo Anthony of the Portland Trail Blazers passed Dominique Wilkins for 13th on the NBA all-time scoring list.
 On February 4, 2021, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers passed Wilt Chamberlain for third place on the NBA all-time field goal list.
 On February 6, 2021, Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets became the first center since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975 to record 50 points and 10 assists.
 On February 9, 2021, Carmelo Anthony of the Portland Trail Blazers passed Oscar Robertson for 12th on the NBA all-time scoring list.
 On February 19, 2021, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers became the third player in NBA history to reach 35,000 career points joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
 On February 19, 2021, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, in a game against the Sacramento Kings became the first pair of teammates to each record a triple double on multiple occasions. The duo first accomplished this feat on December 10, 2019 in a game against the Atlanta Hawks.
 On February 20, 2021, Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns passed Oscar Robertson for sixth place on the NBA all-time assist list.
 On March 3, 2021, T. J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers set several records. The first record was most steals in a half with 9. He also became the first player since Mookie Blaylock to record a triple double with steals and the sixth overall. He did this all off the bench which is also an NBA record.
 On March 3, 2021, Mason Plumlee and Dennis Smith Jr. of the Detroit Pistons became the 13th time a pair of teammates each had a triple double in a game.
 On March 11, 2021, Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat became the fastest player to record 400 career made three pointers, doing it in a span of 125 games, surpassing previous record set by Trae Young at 159 games earlier on January 29, 2021. Robinson made this feat by scoring only nine points, all in three pointers in a game won against the Orlando Magic. Currently, Robinson holds the record of being the fastest player ever to reach three three points made milestones — 200 in 69 games, 300 in 95 games, and now 400 in 125 games.
 On March 13, 2021, Carmelo Anthony of the Portland Trail Blazers passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 11th place on the NBA all-time scoring list.
 On March 27, 2021, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs became the third coach in NBA history to reach 1,300 career wins with a 120–104 win against the Chicago Bulls.
 On March 29, 2021, Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards became the third player to record a 30–10–20 triple-double, joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. He also became the first player to record a triple double with 35 points and 20 assists, with his 35 points, 21 assists, and 14 rebounds.
 On April 10, 2021, the Oklahoma City Thunder had the youngest starting lineup in NBA history with an average age of 20 years, 8 months and 6 days.
 On April 12, 2021, Stephen Curry passed Wilt Chamberlain as the Golden State Warriors all-time scoring leader.
 On April 30, the Celtics overcame a 32 point deficit and beat the Spurs, which was the third biggest comeback ever. They were led by Jayson Tatum who had 60 points.
 On May 1, 2021, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 152–95. The 57-point victory is the largest road win in NBA history.
 On May 1, 2021, Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat passed Luka Dončić as the fastest player to reach 500 3-pointers. He made this feat in 152 games, in a 124–107 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 35 games earlier than Dončić's record of within 187 games.
On May 3, 2021, Carmelo Anthony of the Portland Trail Blazers passed Elvin Hayes for 10th place on the NBA all-time scoring list.
 On May 3, 2021, Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards clinched a fourth season averaging a triple-double. He also recorded the third ever 20-rebound, 20-assist game, as well as the third ever 10–20–20 game, with 14 points, 21 rebounds, and 24 assists against the Indiana Pacers. This was his second time reaching each feat.
 On May 8, 2021, Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards tied Oscar Robertson for most career triple-doubles, with a career total of 181. Two days later on May 10, Westbrook passed Robertson, with a career total of 182.
 On June 1, 2021, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers broke an NBA playoff record with 12 made three-pointers, including 2 threes to force overtime and double overtime as part of a 55-point performance during a 147–140 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of the First Round.
 On June 8, 2021, Nikola Jokić became the first Denver Nuggets player, the first Serbian native, and the lowest-drafted player to be named NBA MVP; he is the first center since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 to win NBA MVP. Jokić and his fellow Serbian countryman Vasilije Micić (Anadolu Efes, Turkey) became the first-ever pair of players from the same country to be awarded both NBA MVP and EuroLeague MVP honors in the same season.

See also
 COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
 COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
 Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports

References

NBA
NBA


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Getting to Know Jo Ellen Pellman, the Breakout Star of Netflix's The Prom
Stylist: Andrew Gelwicks; Hair: Matthew Monzon; Makeup: Gita Bass; Designer: Prabal Gurung Michael Schwartz/Netflix
The actor opens up about her first major film role, working with Meryl Streep, and what the future holds.
A year ago Jo Ellen Pellman was working in the stockroom at a retail chain in New York City when she found out she was in the running to star in The Prom, Ryan Murphy's film adaptation of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical now streaming on Netflix.
You know the rest: The 25-year-old is the centerpiece of the film, singing and dancing her heart out alongside little-known actors like Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and James Corden. It's her first feature film role…ever. "I felt like I was sitting on the world's biggest secret," says Pellman of finding out that she landed the role before the news hit the Hollywood trades.
But when I speak to Pellman ahead of The Prom's premiere, it kind of seems like life hasn't changed that much—at least not yet. The actor couldn't have sounded happier as she tells me she's currently located at her mom's house in Cincinnati. "I've been here since March, living the Midwest dream," she says, with a laugh. "It's great."
In prepandemic times, starring in a big-budget Netflix-Murphy project would mean glamorous red carpets, a flurry of flights between New York and Los Angeles with some international jaunts thrown in, and a full schedule of film premieres and parties. But, 2020. "I have no idea what the future has in store," she says of her career next steps. "I just have to trust my work, trust The Prom, and not really worry about things I can't control."
The musical follows three self-absorbed Broadway actors (Streep, Kidman, and Corden) who travel to Indiana to help Emma Nolan (Pellman), a high-school student banned from attending prom because she wants to bring her girlfriend as her date. (The Broadway show was inspired by the real-life story of Constance McMillen, a 2010 Glamour Woman of the Year.)
The movie's message is one that Pellman, who is queer, identifies with greatly. "If you feel different, know that you're not alone and your chosen family is out there," she says. "There are people out there who can't wait to love and support you."
Growing up, Pellman was a theater kid through and through. She went to theater camp, participated in choir, studied ballet and tap dance, and even thought she might become an opera singer for a period of time. "I would memorize playbills and cast albums as a kid," she says. "Had TikTok been around when I was in middle and high school…." Pellman went on to study musical theater at the University of Michigan; after graduating in 2018, she packed up and moved to New York City to pursue acting, even though the Midwesterner had only ever been to the city twice. Between auditions Pellman worked odd jobs in retail, at the front desk of a gym, and as a nanny.
Playing Emma Nolan has been a starry-eyed dream for Pellman. "We're both from the Midwest, and we both love a good blazer," she jokes. "I even wore blazers in elementary school—I loved them so much."
But Pellman also connected to her character in other, more impactful ways. "I think we're both figuring out how we want to use our voice and our platform," she says. "Emma's is through song and sharing her story on the internet. I'm still figuring out how I want to use mine."
Glamour: What was your relationship to The Prom before the film?
Jo Ellen Pellman: My mom and I actually saw The Prom on Broadway in the spring of 2019, long before I even knew there was going to be a film—and definitely before I knew about my own audition. We had heard such good things about the show, and a lot of the themes resonated with us—I'm queer, my mom is gay, and we're from Ohio. The show just hit so close to home. I remember walking out of the theater and thinking, Okay, this is why I chose to become an actor. Sometimes you strike gold and get to work on a piece that's so artistically sound and brilliant and also has this wonderful message.
What was your audition like?
I got the audition in July of 2019, and I remember Meryl Streep's name was in the email. I forwarded it to my mom and was like, "Can you believe it? This is the show we saw, and I'm going to audition for it!" You do everything you can for a dream audition—you practice everything a bunch of different ways and break down all of the beats. During the audition I chose to sing "Changing My Major" from [the Broadway show] Fun Home, because I love the show and felt like it was in the same world as The Prom. The audition went really well, but I also knew it was a long shot.
A month later I was in the back stockroom at my retail job and got the call that my tape was being sent to Ryan Murphy and I might have a callback. I was so excited and told the store manager, "I'll be back on the floor in one second!"
When I got the callback, I learned I was the only person they were seeing for the role of Emma. I was shocked. The next morning I walked into the waiting room for the callback audition and saw [Tony-nominated actor] Ariana DeBose's name on the sign-in sheet. She was going to be reading for [love interest] Alyssa, and my jaw hit the floor. She's a Broadway icon and someone who I've looked up to for my whole career, and all of a sudden we were making small talk in the waiting room. We went in and did the callback for Ryan and our casting director, and at the end, Ryan gave us a hug. You know you've won the lottery if you get a Ryan Murphy hug.
I felt really good about the audition, but I also knew it was out of my hands and I had to keep moving on. After the callback I had another shift at my retail job, because life goes on. I found out the next day while I was at a thrift store in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. My life has changed ever since.
How was your first day on set?
The first scene I shot was the breakup scene before Ariana sings "Alyssa Greene." I'm glad I got to begin my journey with Ariana. We were so supportive of each other. One of my most treasured moments of filming was the drive to set—Ariana and I would carpool together every day, since we were both new to L.A. and lived near each other. She would pick the music, and we would jam out and talk about our days. Those moments really created that Alyssa and Emma bond.
MELINDA SUE GORDON/NETFLIX
What was it like working with Meryl Streep?
On my second day on set, I was filming a scene with Meryl, Nicole, James, Andrew [Rannells], and Keegan [Michael Key]. We were shooting at a hotel and when I walked into the hotel lobby, they were all sitting on the couches, chatting and laughing. Meryl scooched over, patted the seat next to her, and was like, "Come sit by me." In that moment, she literally made room for me. It was a gesture that made me feel like I belonged.
What was your favorite musical number to film?
My favorite number to shoot was "Unruly Heart," because it's the first time in the film where you zoom out from the story we're telling and get the sense that Emma isn't the only person going through this. There are so many people whose lives will be a little bit brighter because Emma shared her story.
And what was the most challenging number?
There is a part of "Just Breathe" where I'm swimming in a pool, but I hadn't gotten into a pool for two years before that. I had to take swimming lessons and learn how to sing while swimming. It was a full day of swimming, diving, and shooting lap after lap. That was very physically challenging, and I'm very proud of it.
What did you learn from Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman?
I learned so much from them just by observing how they worked—I was a sponge on set. Watching Meryl was truly a master class in bringing something new to every single take. It was so nuanced, and she never did the same thing twice; she was always breathing new life into the character. That is one of the reasons why Meryl is Meryl—she's constantly making it fresh and new.
And Nicole is fearless. I will never forget when we were shooting a scene where we're eating ice cream—she scooped up some ice cream with her hand and just ate it. Every single take, she goes all in. We were dancing on stairs in heels and it was slippery, and she still just gave it her all. She has the most incredible work ethic. Because of Nicole, we didn't stop rehearsing until we absolutely nailed it.
What was your own prom like?
I was actually senior class president and on the prom planning committee. It's kind of embarrassing now, but I was that person. I was so excited for prom. I rented my dress and felt so cute—it was a red off-the-shoulder Halston dress, and I slicked my hair back into a bun. I thought I was going to the Met Gala. I danced the night away with friends, and it was a really fun time. But still, it doesn't hold a candle to the inclusive prom that Ryan Murphy threw for us.
Caitlin Brody is the entertainment director at Condé Nast.
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Civics Education Resource Guide
NCSC has gathered a list of national organizations whose mission it is to educate others about the government and law. Some organizations provide lesson plans or other materials, which teachers, court leaders, or even parents, may consider as useful educational learning tools.
If you have a civics education program that is not listed and should be, please contact Deirdre Roesch or Lorri Montgomery.
Alabama Center for Law & Civic Education
Cumberland School of Law
Birmingham, Alabama 35229
Mission and Goals: The Alabama Center for Law & Civic Education (ACLCE) is dedicated to educating young citizens in civic knowledge, skills and responsibilities. ACLCE is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit civic education organization which was established in June of 1990. ACLCE is a nationally recognized resource and training center for teachers, school resource officers and community leaders.
The goal of ACLCE is to prepare youth to become active, engaged and informed participants in a democratic society. We offer innovative programs that are relevant to the diverse needs of Alabama's students and teachers. Over the past 20 years, we have built an energetic and cost-effective non-profit organization that utilizes the power of an experienced staff and a large group of committed volunteers to reach educators, schools, and students throughout the state.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented:
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Play by the Rules
Teen Court of Jefferson County
Street Law
Alaska Court System
303 K Street, 5th Floor
Mission and Goals: Each year, the Alaska Court System works with legal organizations and educational groups to foster law-related education in our state. The Alaska Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Anchorage Bar Association and other groups offer excellent educational programs that help students better understand our legal system and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Whether you are an educator, parent or student, we hope you will explore these opportunities for civic engagement and learning, which include iCivics, Supreme Court LIVE, Color of Justice, Law Day, and the Alaska High School Mock Trial Championships.
American Bar Association Division for Public Education
321 N. Clark Street
Email: publiceducation@americanbar.org
Mission and goals: The six goals that follow constitute the priorities of the American Bar Association Division for Public Education and guide the programs and practices of the division for public education.
To promote the highest-quality education about law in schools (kindergarten through adult classes)
and in community settings.
To stimulate public awareness of, and dialogue about, law and its role in society.
To mobilize the resources of the ABA to promote public understanding of law and the legal profession.
To establish mechanisms that encourage and recognize individuals and institutions for advancing public understanding of law.
To include diverse peoples, organizations, and perspectives in the planning and implementation of programs and in the audiences our programs serve.
To form partnerships to develop and implement public education programs about law.
Programs Developed/Distributes/Implemented: We offer law-related resources and programs to educators, students, journalists, legal professionals, opinion leaders, and the public to promote understanding of law and its vital role in our society. Programs and resources include:
Insights on Law and Society, a magazine for civics, government, history and law high school teachers
Federal Trials and Great Debates Summer Institute for Teachers, co-sponsored with the Federal Judicial Center
Local and National Civics & Law Academies
Pr e view of the United States Supreme Court Cases, a publication with key background information on all current U.S. Supreme Court cases and briefs, written in easy to understand language
Law Day and Constitution Day resources
Programs including the Leon Jaworski Public Program, On the Docket and National Law-Related
Education Conference (bi-annual)
American Board of Trial Advocates
2001 Bryan St., Suite 3000
Point of Contact: Brian W. Tyson, Executive Director
Mission and Goals: The mission of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) is to provide education concerning the history and value of the right to trial by jury.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The ABOTA Academies consist of the following:
Justice By the People is used by middle and high school teachers to introduce the concepts and practice of jury trial.
James Otis Lecture Series – lectures held in historic government buildings by a noted historian to honor Otis, who played a crucial role in the Revolution of the Bill of Rights
Teacher's Law School – a 3-4 day concentrated course on legal subjects relevant to civics education
Constitutional Law Workshop –a full-day educator workshop in collaboration with The National Constitution Center. Two nationally renowned constitutional scholars lecture; curriculum development training and classroom materials are provided
Journalist Law School – leading journalists receive a 3-day course on legal topics, principles and procedures
Civility Matters – this project provides a DVD and published materials, wherein nationally recognized attorneys and judges discuss civility and professionalism to law schools, courtrooms, and bar associations nationwide
Masters in Trial – mock trials conducted in various cities 15 to 20 times per year
ABOTA Trial College – a rigorous school for aspiring trial attorneys. The program features intense instruction on trial presentation and technique with critiques by ABOTA members and judges.
Civics Programs are Tailored to:
American Heritage Education Foundation
3501 W. Alabama, Suite 200
Mission and goals: The American Heritage Education Foundation (AHEF) is a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation (501.c.3) dedicated to the understanding and teaching of America's factual and philosophical heritage to promote constructive citizenship and Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility among our students and citizens. AHEF accomplishes this patriotic mission by writing, producing, and distributing FREE K-12 lesson plans to teachers, students, and families in all 50 states and through additional initiatives, programs, and partnerships.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: America's Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty is a tested lesson plan resource and supplement for Kindergarten-12th grade teachers of social studies, U. S. history, U. S. government, political science, economics, geography, speech, and/or related subjects. Written by fellow teachers, the resource consists of age-appropriate and modifiable lesson plans grouped into three separate books according to level: elementary, middle, and high school. Each elementary school lesson plan correlates practically with the nationally applicable Core Knowledge Skills (grades K-6) (national edition). The elementary school lesson plans include lessons about the colonists' experience under monarchy; the context for the writing of the Declaration of Independence; the creation of important American symbols, songs, and holidays; and the character traits modeled by great national leaders and presidents. Each middle and high school lesson plan correlates with the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) standards (national edition). The middle school lesson plans include lessons focusing on concepts within the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and other important texts and American symbols as well as the ideals for which many fought and sacrificed their lives. The high school lesson plans include lessons for in-depth analysis and understanding of the ideas, intentions, arguments, rights, and meanings addressed in significant texts from the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence to Federalist 47, the First Amendment, and a government letter on religious expression in public schools.
Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education
Point of Contact: Joannie D. Collins, Director of Quality Enhancement
Mission and Goals: The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education unites community partners, educators, and youth to help all Arizonans be competent, responsible citizens throughout their lives:
To be informed with an appreciation of history and the fundamental processes of American democracy; an understanding of public issues; an awareness of personal rights and responsibilities; and ability to obtain information and think critically.
To respectfully participate in communities while working with an array of cultural, social, political, and religious interests and beliefs.
To hold the skills enabling respectful civil discourse, knowledge of processes for petitioning and protesting, and awareness of the responsibility of voting.
To hold the civic virtues of concern for the rights of others, social responsibility, tolerance and respect, and belief in the capacity to make a difference.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The Arizona Supreme Court and the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education partner to develop and implement civic education programs that empower Arizona individuals, communities, and schools. The civic education programs include:
I-Civic-It!
Arizona Teen Association
Behind the Laws & Decisions
Connecting with Classrooms
Law Day
LawForKids.org
LawForSeniors.org
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution
We the People: Project Citizen.
The unique aspects of the vast array include: crossing and intertwining generations, providing youth, adults, and senior citizens with increasing civic knowledge while engaging them; utilizing interactive technology for ease in access and efficiency in operations; recognizing accomplishments for al participants; encouraging partnerships with both private and public sectors; and, inviting all branches of government to participate in programs.
SROs and JPOs
Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts
Justice Building
Point of Contact: Nick Shumate, Public Education Coordinator
Mission and Goals: The Judicial Branch Education Division of the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts recognizes the relationship between civics education and the effectiveness of the American justice system. It strives to develop programs that instill in students a sense of familiarity with the court system, respect for the rule of law, and ownership of their future.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: Students creating art projects, observing their Arkansas Supreme Court, and being inundated with trial and appellate judges in the classroom – all are part of the civics projects sponsored by the Judicial Branch Education Division of the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts.
Elementary and middle school students participate in art projects with themes based on love of country and the legal system. The winning artwork permanently hangs in the Justice Building.
The Supreme Court travels twice a year for "Appeals on Wheels" where local students of all ages attend the oral argument and Justices later visit in the classrooms.
Judicial Council, consisting of appellate and trial court judges, participate in a special project with over 100 judges streaming into classrooms for a civics outreach program.
Baylor University's online doctorate of education program
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: Baylor University's online doctorate of education program has collected tips, resources, and ideas for teachers looking to incorporate action civics lessons into their curriculum.
The program provides lessons on the basic tenets of citizenship and democracy, as well as resources and training materials for the classroom including, "Generation Citizen," "Earth Force," "Generation Nation," and "The News Literacy Project."
Bill of Rights Institute
200 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1050
Mission and Goals: Bill of Rights Institute, established in 1999, is a 501(c)(3) not for profit charity focused on providing educational resources on America's Founding documents and principles for teachers and students of American History and Civics. The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society. It is the goal of the Institute to help the next generation understand the freedom and opportunity the Constitution offers. The vision of the Institute is to create a citizenry that has the knowledge, values, dispositions, and skills to exercise the rights and responsibilities needed to maintain a free society.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The Bill of Rights Institute offers programs and events for both educators and students.
For Educators: The Bill of Rights Institute offers a variety of educational programs and instructional materials for educators. These include constitutional seminars around the country, as well as printed and online teachers' guides for use in history, government, civics, and social studies elementary, middle, and high school classes.
For Students: Students can write an essay about the most important civic value in the Being an American Essay Contest for a chance to win $5,000 and a trip to Washington D.C. The Contest is designed to promote dialogue between students and teachers about American civic values and Founding principles. Students can also apply for the Constitutional Academy
The Academy is the nation's premier program for high-school students to study the Constitution, and is designed to encourage enthusiasm for learning, prepare students for the academic challenges of a college education, and provide the intellectual tools to create more effective, engaged citizens.
Center for Civic Education
21600 Oxnard Street, Suite 500
Mission and goals: The Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in California.
The Center's programs are implemented with the assistance of a network of public- and private-sector organizations and educational leaders in every state and congressional district in the country and in more than eighty other countries, many of which are emerging and advanced democracies.
The Center has its roots in the interdisciplinary Committee on Civic Education formed at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1964 to develop more effective curricular programs in elementary and secondary civic education. In 1969, the Center became affiliated with the State Bar of California. In 1981, the State Bar established the Center for Civic Education as an independent nonprofit organization that remains affiliated with the State Bar.
The principal goals of the Center's programs are to help students develop (1) an increased understanding of the institutions of constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded, (2) the skills necessary to participate as competent and responsible citizens, and (3) the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict. Ultimately, the Center strives to develop an enlightened citizenry by working to increase understanding of the principles, values, institutions, and history of constitutional democracy among teachers, students, and the general public.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The Center offers the most effective programs in the world in civic education for democracy. The main curricular programs of the Center are the following:
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, which is used at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels and in colleges and universities.
We the People: Project Citizen, which is used at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels and in colleges and universities.
Foundations of Democracy, which is used in classrooms ranging from kindergarten through the twelfth grade.
Center for Civic Values
The Center for Civic Values (CCV) was founded originally in 1962 as the New Mexico Bar Foundation and is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable and educational corporation. Offices are in Albuquerque, New Mexico; program activities have been conducted throughout the state; and, educational materials have been used in classrooms and mock trial programs across the country.
Classroom Law Project
620 SW Main Street, Suite 102
Mission and goals: Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders building strong communities by teaching students to become active citizens.
Classroom Law Project began and still operates every day on a single core belief: the way to preserve democracy is to teach democracy. And the best way to teach democracy is to incorporate its many vital lessons and principles into the school curriculum. Students learn through mock trials, simulated hearings, discussing public issues and much more, gaining the knowledge and tools required for active, effective participation as citizens in our contemporary democratic society. Their teachers are supported with professional development and new strategies for increasing student knowledge and engagement.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: Classroom Law Project brings education, legal and business communities together by providing innovative, timely, practical, and fun civic education programs for students K-12. Some of the programs include:
Courthouse Experience Program
High School Mock Trial Competition
Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers
Project Citizen
Youth Summits
Colorado Bar Association
1900 Grant Street, Suite 900
Denver, Colorado, 80203
Phone: (303) 860-1115, or (800) 332-6736
The Colorado Bar Association was founded in 1897 and has 17,500 members. Priorities for the CBA include:
Assist members in improving practice quality
Economics and efficiency
Support and improve the Justice System
Enhance public confidence in the legal profession
Our Courts - Nonpartisan information programs for adult audiences to further public knowledge and understanding of the state and federal courts in Colorado.
Colorado Bar Association High School Mock Trial Program - Students perform as attorneys and/or witnesses in a court case. Attorneys, judges, teachers, and other community leaders instruct students about the judicial system and the trial process through this educational program.
Connecticut Bar Association
30 Bank Street
New Britain, Connecticut 06050-0350
Mission and goals: The Connecticut Bar Association's law-related education (LRE) program helps give students throughout Connecticut a better insight into the United States legal system. Attorneys looking to share their passion for the law can volunteer for the CBA's LRE program, no matter how short or long their time commitment may be.
Adult Civic Education covers a wide range of areas, from wiretapping to eminent domain, so that students can better understand the intricacies of civics and American government;
The Connecticut Court Visitation Program, where students witness real-life criminal court proceedings
Bill of Rights in Action, in which students gain a more solid understanding of how the U.S. Constitution affects their lives;
Mock Trial Competitions, co-sponsored by CCLCE, for which volunteers serve as judges and coaches as middle and high school students compete against other Connecticut schools in a battle of courtroom wits, right in the classroom;
Street Law: A Course in Practical Law helps students develop necessary skills for survival in society.
Dane County Bar Association's Law for the Public Committee
Facsimile: (608) 848- 9266
Mission and goals: The Dane County Bar Association's Law for the Public Committee conveys information about the law to the public; improves the availability and accessibility of legal information and resources; provides and promotes educational opportunities for members of the public interested in the law; and in carrying out these functions, generates goodwill toward the Association and the legal profession.
Your Life, Your Rights Program - the Committee partners with local high schools to bring teams of volunteer lawyers and judges into classrooms to help educate high school students about their legal rights and civic responsibilities.
DENVER BAR ASSOCIATION 1900 Grant Street, Suite 900
Mission and goals: The Denver Bar Association was founded in 1891 with the commitment to promote justice, support and assist member attorneys in delivering legal service and uphold the honor and dignity of the bar. The association likewise works to foster respect for the legal profession, encourage ongoing legal education and offers resources for the media and the public on legal issues.
Java & Juice - Attorneys meet with youth aging out of foster care, to answer their legal questions
Denver Bar Guest Teaching Program - Attorneys, paralegals, magistrates and judges substitute in Denver Public Schools on pre-planned days.
Lawline 9 - Call-in program during 9 o'clock news, in which attorneys offer legal information and referrals to other community legal resources.
Constitution Day - Attorneys teach students about the Constitution.
Discovering Justice
Moakley U.S. Courthouse One Courthouse Way
Point of Contact: Lissy Medvedow, Executive Director
Mission and Goals: Founded in 1998 and incorporated as an independent nonprofit in 2001, Discovering Justice is a Boston-based civic and justice education nonprofit organization. Their mission is to prepare young people to value the justice system, realize the power of their own voices, and embrace civic responsibility by connecting classrooms and courtrooms.
Discovering Justice's programs teach children to use their voices to advocate for themselves and others through learning about democratic values, history, justice, and civic responsibility. They offer programs in school, afterschool, and in courthouses. Several programs have both a school-based and courthouse-based component.
Students who participate in Discovering Justice develop a sense of personal responsibility and respect for others, learn that they can make a difference in their lives and their communities, and become cognizant of the value of their participation in society. Discovering Justice places a special emphasis on underserved communities.
Discovering Justice's interactive civic education programs. include:
Children Discovering Justice – a literacy-based civics curriculum in elementary schools, grades 1-5 with Courthouse field trips
Mock Trial Program – a 10-week afterschool program for middle school students
Stand Up for Your Rights – an 8-week afterschool appellate program for middle school students
Discovering the Bill of Rights – a 90-minute constitutional fieldtrip for middle school students
Courthouse Tours in Moakley U.S. Courthouse and John Adams Courthouse
Middle School High School College
Other - Volunteers (Attorneys, Judges, Professionals)
The Florida Bar Constitutional Judiciary Committee
Mission and Goals: The Benchmarks Adult Civics Education Program from the Florida Bar Constitutional Judiciary Committee is a series of interactive activities for adult audiences, each designed for a lawyer or a judge to utilize. The materials are completely self-contained, easy to access, and can be easily adapted for other states.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The Benchmarks Program is interactive in nature and suitable for presentation at virtually any nonpartisan gathering of adults in a community. Interactive activities include:
Could You Pass the Test?
Is It Unconstitutional? The Case of the Scarlet Tag
Sorting Out the Courts
Is it Reasonable? Case Study
Jardines v. Florida Case Study
Amending the Florida Constitution
THe NAWJ Informed Voters, Fair Judges Project provides a Fair Courts=Justice presentation available in a Florida version through The Florida Bar website. For additional information on how to adapt to your state, contact them here.
Florida Bar Law Related Education Committee
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300
Mission and Goals: The purpose of the Florida Bar Law Related Education Committee is to promote effective law related education programs in grades K-12 of Florida's schools, with an emphasis on teaching students about the legal system, and for people and their property. The committee seeks to maintain and enhance the cooperative efforts of attorneys, educators, and law enforcement personnel in the field of law related education in Florida.
#JustAdulting Mobile Website and Digital App
Development of mock trial cases for middle and high school classrooms
Volunteers for judging law-related competitions
Assist with Justice Teaching Awards
So You Want To Be A Lawyer
Florida Supreme Court Educational Program
500 S. Duval Street
Point of Contact: Tricia Knox, Education Coordinator
Mission and Goals: The mission of the Florida Supreme Court's Educational Program is to provide opportunities for students, teachers and the general public to learn about the role of the judiciary and the levels and jurisdictions of Florida's trial and appellate courts. This is done through a variety of programs that range from historical tours to well-developed educational programs.
Programs generally begin with an overview lesson about the Florida Court System, the Florida Supreme Court and the importance of the judicial branch. Most end with a mock oral argument scenario that requires students to think critically and allows them to experience more deeply the role of the state Supreme Court.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: Two popular programs are the Journey through Justice and the Making My Vote Count programs. Journey through Justice works in cooperation with Teen Court staff from the local trial court. Students participate in both a mock trial and an oral argument to gain a complete understanding of the court system and Florida's third branch of government.
Making My Vote Count is a joint educational program between the Florida Supreme Court, the Historic Old Capital and the Museum of Florida History. It explores the importance and individual responsibility of voting. Each location provides its unique responsibility from their branch perspective. Students participate in activities at all three locations; exploring the history of elections in Florida and the importance of exercising their voting rights.
1875 K Street NW Suite 500
Point of Contact: Kelly Landis, Director of Communications & Outreach
Mission and Goals: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor founded iCivics to reverse Americans' declining civic knowledge and participation. iCivics prepares young Americans to become knowledgeable, engaged 21st century citizens by creating innovative educational materials and making civic education relevant to a new generation through video games, classroom materials, and other innovative teaching techniques. Our free materials are fun for students and practical for teachers in classrooms of all types.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: iCivics offers the nation's most comprehensive, standards-aligned civics curriculum that is available freely on the Web. The iCivics program contains 16 educational video games, 13 curriculum units and 70 lesson plans about civics topics ranging from the Constitution to budgeting to civil rights. In Fall 2012, iCivics will offer the first-of-its-kind The Drafting Board, an interactive online tool that teaches persuasive writing through civics topics.
iCivics South
72 Rocky Cove Road
Point of Contact: Dr. Jane C. Brailsford, Master Trainer/Project Director
Mission and Goals: The mission of iCivics South is to introduce the iCivics method of enhanced civics learning into the South Carolina education system, to coordinate its successful implementation, and to advocate and guide its sustained use as a major civics-education resource.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: Perhaps the most significant iCivics South project is it partnership with the SC GEAR UP Grant. Working with the schools, colleges, and communities, which benefit from the SC GEAR UP grant, iCivics South will provide training and support for civics education in fifteen school districts.
Also noteworthy is the development of iCivics curricula that will become a sustainable part of instructional programs in South Carolina. iCivics South led the development of pilot programs for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade iCivics exploratory courses and a 10th grade elective course. As a result, seven middle schools and three high schools will offer daily instruction in iCivics beginning in Fall 2012. Other pilots developed for South Carolina students include an iCivics Summer Leadership Camp and iCivics End-of-Year Program.
424 S. Second St.
Springfield IL 62701-1779
Mission and Goals: The Illinois State Bar Association is the premier legal association in the state. As a voluntary organization of more than 30,000 members, the Association's primary focus is to assist Illinois lawyers in the practice of law and to promote improvements in the administration of justice. The Association engages in many important activities on behalf of the profession — among them proposing and shaping legislation, educating the public, and supporting the courts and the rule of law.
Part of our mission at the ISBA is to educate the public and students of all ages about the important role of lawyers and judges, the importance of an independent judiciary for the proper administration of justice, and to foster an interest in students to respect our justice system and consider pursuing careers in the law. The Law-Related Education committee of the ISBA is composed of volunteer lawyers and judges and educators, with assistance by ISBA staff.
The Law-Related Education Committee of the ISBA carries out that mission through a number of activities, including the following:
Quarterly newsletter about civics and law-related education programs and resources sent free by e-mail to any teacher who requests it.
Website containing lesson plans and resources for civics and law-related education available to lawyers and educators.
Lawyer in the Classroom program through which lawyers are available to speak in the classroom.
Booklets about the law for youth, including Becoming An Adult: Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities at Age 18, a booklet for young adults, and Kids and the Law: An A-To-Z Guide for Parents, a booklet for kids and parents about such legal topics as juvenile's rights, driver's regulations, work rules for youth. All are online and free.
Sponsorship of a statewide Mock Trial Competition each spring for high school students.
Indiana Supreme Court
Office of Judicial Administration
State House, Room 315
200 W. Washington Street
Mission and Goals: The Indiana Supreme Court's Office of Communication, Education, and Outreach manages media inquiries, public information, and opportunities for educators to engage with the judicial branch.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The Indiana Supreme Court takes oral arguments on the road twice a year. Area students have the opportunity to witness a Supreme Court oral argument and interact with the Court during Q&A sessions that follow the argument.
OCEO manages National Adoption Day, participates in Statehood Day events, and coordinates Constitution Day activities for judges across the state.
The Indiana Supreme Court webcasts all oral arguments live and archive them for later viewing here. An directory of judicial officers willing to speak to K-12 classrooms in their respective counties is also available online through the Judges Speakers Bureau.
League of Women Voters® of Oregon
League of Women Voters® of Oregon (LWVOR) is a grassroots, nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government in order to build better communities statewide. LWVOR's purposes are to influence public policy through education and advocacy, and to provide support for League members and the League organization.
Learning Law and Democracy Foundation
987 East Ivy Avenue
Mission and Goals: The Learning Law and Democracy Foundation is a non-profit nonpartisan organization dedicated to building strong communities of engaged citizens through education in the law, civics, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
For over 25 years, the Learning Law and Democracy Foundation has sponsored civics, government, and law-related education programs, including curriculum development, technical assistance, web-based resources, and programs designed for youth, their teachers, and other community members. Through these activities, participants are developing the knowledge, skills, and character traits needed to be effective and responsible citizens.
The Learning Law and Democracy Foundation launched in 1981 as the Minnesota Center for Community Legal Education at Hamline University School of Law. Although its initial mission focused on promoting the development of legal competence through law-related education in schools and community organizations, it quickly broadened its vision to include instruction in civics and government.
After six years of programming at the University of Minnesota (1996-2002) and name change, the Learning Law and Democracy Foundation became an independent 501(c)(3) organization with offices in the Minnesota Humanities Education Center in St. Paul.
Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education
601 St. Charles Avenue, 4th Floor
Mission and Goals:The Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education promotes the practical understanding of, and respect for, the law throughout Louisiana. This is achieved by coordinating, implementing, and developing Law and Civic Education programs, by training others in the delivery of Law and Civic Education and assisting schools and interested community organizations with the delivery of quality Law and Civics Education programs.
Lawyers in the Classroom/Judges in the Classroom
Citizens, Not Spectators
Louisiana Summer Institute
Open Doors to Federal Courts
Y-Vote
Maryland Civics and Law Academy
Office of Communications and Public Affairs
State of Maryland Judiciary
Judicial Education Conference Center
2011-D Commerce Park Drive
Point of Contact: Pamila J. Brown, Associate Judge
Mission and Goals: The Maryland Civics and Law Academy engages young people of middle school and high school age in learning about law and civil society. The purpose of the academy is to prepare young people to be participants in our democratic society. In Maryland, dozens of civically active judges ad attorneys volunteer their time to share knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for civic engagement with hundreds of young participants. The academy is a partnership of the Maryland Judiciary, Maryland State Bar Association, the Citizenship Law Related Education Program, and the Maryland Public School System. It is offered three times per school year to meet the needs of local school systems. The Civics and Law Academy is an important tool to promote public understanding of the courts and increase the public's trust and confidence in the administration of justice.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: In its first program year, three Civics and Law Academies were held in Maryland during the 2011-12 school year in local schools or education centers in Baltimore, Prince George's and Frederick Counties. Nearly 300 students and teachers attended the sessions, which received positive reviews from the participants. The Civics and Law Academy offers a minimum of four hours of focused instruction on topics such as Law and Justice; Rights and Responsibilities; Free Speech, School Speech and Protected Speech; and Power and Empowerment. The academies feature interactive lessons taught by judges and attorneys, which are designed to develop civic competency and a deeper understanding of the law and their legal rights.
College (can be modified)
Massachusetts Jury System
Office of Jury Commissioner
Point of Contact: John W. Cavanaugh, Deputy Jury Commissioner
Mission and Goals: Jury outreach strives to encourage full citizen participation to enhance diversity of all juries, while it discourages juror delinquency. Special attention has been devoted to promoting the program in urban areas to remind everyone that our juries should reflect the cultural diversity of our citizens and of our communities. The Massachusetts Jury System informs prospective jurors that juror service should be a positive and rewarding experience.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: Our free multimedia school presentation discusses the history of jury, how people are affected by jury verdicts, juror fashion, juror delinquency, and the effects of countries with no jury trials. If time allows, a jury trial simulation is conducted with students portraying the participants. An adult presentation emphasizes the four major benefits of our jury system.
Other - Civic Organizations
Mikva Challenge
Chicago, Illinois, 60604
Mission and Goals: Mikva Challenge develops the next generation of civic leaders, activists and policy-makers. This is done by providing young people with opportunities to actively participate in the political process, because it is the belief that the best way to learn leadership and to learn democracy is to experience both.
Mikva Challenge is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 organization that prioritizes the development of civic leadership in underserved Chicago high school youth. Mikva Challenge was founded in 1997 as a tribute to former White House Counsel, Judge and U.S. Congressman Abner Mikva and his wife Zoe, a lifelong education activist. Mikva Challenge helps low-income Chicago youth become meaningful actors in politics and, by doing so, honors the Mikvas' decades of inspiring young adults to embark on careers in public service and politics.
Mikva Challenge embraces ambitious youth workers and advocates; since 2000, Mikva Challenge has trained over 20,000 young people through elections, activism and policymaking programs. Through the Mikva process, young people connect with peers, adults and political issues, strategize about how to win their issue or campaign and take action to become real political participants. These youth tell that they feel they have a "voice" now and report having a greater desire to vote, campaign, organize, lobby, and even run for office. Perhaps most importantly, these Mikva youth now believe that Chicago is their city and that they have the power, knowledge and skills to make it a more just and equitable place – both now and in the future. Mikva Challenge's work is focused on helping youth take political action now in order to develop the next generation of civic leaders.
As a result, all programs aim to achieve four core goals:
Ignite teenagers' passion for politics;
Increase youth civic knowledge;
Develop students' democratic leadership skills; and
Help young people become part of the solution to school, neighborhood and city problems.
The Missouri Bar Citizenship Education
The Missouri Bar
326 Monroe
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0119
Mission and Goals: The Missouri Bar provides extensive support for classroom learning about the law, the legal system, and the courts. From lesson plans to teacher workshops, The Missouri Bar is committed to helping teachers throughout Missouri understand and explain the law.
We the People: Project Citizen
Annual Law Day for Educators
Teaching Controversial Issues
Judicial Symposium
Missouri Supreme Court, Civic Education Committee
Point of Contact: Hon. Patricia Breckenridge, Judge, Missouri Supreme Court
Mission and Goals: The Civic Education Committee of the Missouri Supreme Court was commissioned in 2011 to educate the people of Missouri on the role of the judiciary in protecting the rights of all people and the common good. The mission of the committee is to enhance the public's understanding of Missouri's court system and its function, thereby enhancing the public's trust and confidence in the judicial branch of the government. The committee is actively developing initiatives to enhance interaction between the courts and their communities that will educate the public about the practices, procedures, and proper role of our state's courts in our system of government.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The committee has chosen to target the fourth graders touring the Missouri Supreme Court for education on the essential role the court plays in our system of government. Another key program is the Appellate Court Road Show, in which appellate court judges hear oral argument in front of an audience composed of high school students, college students, or members of the public. The Missouri Supreme Court Institute brings teachers to the high court for a week of instruction during the summer; lesson plans, materials, and presentations will be provided to teachers on the importance of the courts. The committee is also working to bring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's internet-based iCivics program to the attention of teachers. Finally, members of the Civic Education Committee are working with the state's policymakers to ensure that they fully understand the importance of an independent judiciary.
Other - State Policy Makers
National Associations of Woman Judges' Informed Voters, Fair Judges Project
National Office NAWJ
1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Ste 1138
Mission and Goals:
The mission of the National Associations of Woman Judges' Informed Voters Fair Judges Project is to promote public understanding of the judicial branch and the need for fair and impartial courts,. IVP seeks to educate and inform the public about the unique role of the judiciary in our constitutional structure and to raise awareness of current threats to a fair and impartial judiciary today.
Programs Developed/Implemented/Distributed:
Presentations addressing the judicial branch and the need for fair and impartial courts
Presentation materials and handouts for use with adult nonpartisan audiences
Emmy-award winning video
Website with educational resources and presentation materials
Education, outreach, and technical assistance
300 Newport Avenue
Point of Contact: Lorri Montgomery, Director of Communications & Marketing
Mission and Goals: The National Center for State Courts is an independent, nonprofit court improvement organization founded at the urging of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren E. Burger. He envisioned NCSC as a clearinghouse for research information and comparative data to support improvement in judicial administration in state courts.
Over twenty years ago, the Institute for Court Management merged with NCSC, adding an educational curriculum especially designed for court managers. In the early 1990s, an international division was formed to offer a similar array of research, consulting, education, and information services to strengthen the rules of law in countries around the world.
All of NCSC's services — research, information services, education, consulting — are focused on helping courts plan, make decisions, and implement improvements that save time and money, while ensuring judicial administration that supports fair and impartial decision- making.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: Justice Case Files are graphic novels that engage readers while giving insight into how judges make decisions, how the courts protect the public and why courts are so important to a democratic society.
National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street
Mission and Goals: The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America's leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter "to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis."
As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America's Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit their website.
The Interactive Constitution offering extensive primary and secondary sources and a content rich media library with videos, podcasts, blog posts, and lesson plans.
America's Town Hall programs about constitutional issues in the news.
Weekly We the People podcast featuring the best arguments on all sides of current constitutional questions.
A Constitutional Exchange program connecting students online to practice civil dialogue skills and learn how the Constitution impacts their lives.
Professional development opportunities for educators, legal professionals, and law enforcement.
8555 Sixteenth Street
Point of Contact: Susan Griffin, Executive Director
Mission and Goals: Social studies educators teach students the content knowledge, intellectual skills, and civic values necessary for fulfilling the duties of citizenship in a participatory democracy. The mission of National Council for the Social Studies is to provide leadership, service, and support for all social studies educators.
Founded in 1921, National Council for the Social Studies has grown to be the largest association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies. With members in all the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 69 foreign countries, NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for elementary, secondary, and college teachers of history, civics, geography, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and law-related education. Organized into a network of more than 110 affiliated state, local, and regional councils and associated groups, the NCSS membership represents K-12 classroom teachers, college and university faculty members, curriculum designers and specialists, social studies supervisors, and leaders in the various disciplines that constitute the social studies.
Programs: In 2010, NCSS published National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: A Framework for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment. The revised standards continue to be structured around the ten themes of social studies; however, they offer a sharper focus on Purposes; Questions for Exploration; Knowledge (what learners need to understand); Processes (what learners will be capable of doing); and Products (how learners demonstrate understanding). NCSS standards ensure an integrated social science, behavioral science, and humanities approach for achieving academic and civic competence that can be used by social studies decision makers in K-12 schools.
The NCSS framework consists of ten themes incorporating fields of study that correspond with one or more relevant disciplines. These are:
Time, Continuity, and Change
People, Places, and Environments
Individual Development and Identity
Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
Power, Authority, and Governance
Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Science, Technology, and Society
Civic Ideals and Practices
Nebraska State Bar Foundation Center for Law-Related Education
635 South 14th Street, Suite 120
Mission and Goals: The Nebraska State Bar Foundation has been designated as the State Center for Law-Related Education in Nebraska by Youth for Justice, a cooperative program supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the United States Department of Justice. The Foundation sponsors the Nebraska High School Mock Trial Project, Reaching the Age of Majority booklet, and various Law Day celebration activities as wells as newly emerging LRE programs and projects.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The Nebraska State Bar Foundation supports many civic education programs, several of which are cosponsored by the Nebraska Supreme Court. Jointly held programs are under the State Bar Foundation's PEOPLE Committee (Public Education Outreach Promoting the Law & Equity) and include: Statewide High School Law Day Essay Contest, 5th Grade Job Shadowing, Journalist Education Seminars, Voters' guide to Judges' Retention Elections, and other topic specific programming.
North Dakota Justices Teaching Institute
State Capitol Building
600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 180
Point of Contact: Lee Ann Barnhardt, Director of Education & Communication
Mission and Goals: The mission of the North Dakota Justices Teaching Institute is to foster a better understanding of the roles of the courts, how they work, how judges make decisions and to increase public access to the court system. The goal is to enable participants to teach others with confidence about the nature, history, structure, function and processes of the courts and the judiciary; to implement strategies for effectively teaching legal concepts; to utilize technology to teach law-related subjects; and to apply constitutional knowledge and principles to judicial decision-making.
Program Developed/Implemented: North Dakota Justices Teaching Institute is offered bi-annually to secondary history and government teachers. Supreme Court justices develop the 1 ½ day course and guide participants through academic and clinical experiences preparing for the Institute's final application – a mock oral argument. Experiential learning sessions progress through the function and structure of state and federal courts; the framework of judicial decision- making ; legal research; and civil and criminal court processes. To provide an understanding of the underlying legal concepts that the teachers apply to decide the constitutional question, the justices present sessions analyzing the respective constitutional amendment, statues, and case law. Lesson plans, PowerPoints, teaching notes and other materials are provided to assist the teachers in fulfilling their requirement to teach the legal concepts to their students.
Oklahoma Bar Association for Law-Related Education
1901 N. Lincoln Blvd.
The Law-Related Education (LRE) Department of the Oklahoma Bar Association was established in 1989 to further the OBA's goals of increasing public service and enhancing public understanding of the law and the legal system. To that end, LRE endeavors to educate citizens in a constitutional democracy and to create an active and responsible citizenry.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: LRE conducts programs both independently and in partnership with non-profits, civic organizations, and educational groups. Programs include professional development for teachers and others in the civic community via institutions and training workshops. Classroom materials are created and distributed for programs administered by LRE. To fulfill its mission of educating citizens, LRE develops programs unique to Oklahoma such as INFORM — a methamphetamine awareness seminar program, and Law School for Legislators — a training workshop for new legislators.
Programs include:
Hatton W. Sumners: Foundation of Democracy – LRE Basis 101 Summer Institute
Peaceful Resolution for Oklahoma Students (PROS)
Law School for Legislators
Lawyers in the Classroom
Representative Democracy in America
Oklahoma Close Up
Oregon Civics Toolkit
Public Service Building Suite 501
255 Capitol St. NE
Salem OR 97310
Toll free 1-866-673-VOTE (1-866-673-8683)
The Civics Toolkit is an Oregon-centric guide to elections civics. The lesson plans target students ages 16 to 24. They cover everything from the history of voting in Oregon to what you need to know before you register to vote in our great state.
As Oregon's chief elections officer, it is the duty of the Secretary of State to engage Oregonians in the democratic process. Only citizens who have the needed knowledge and skills can sustain a democracy. May this toolkit assist educators as they prepare students for citizenship in the 21st Century.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108-0186
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The Pennsylvania Bar Association offers a variety of programs for Educators and Lawyers, including:
Judges and Lawyers in the Classroom
Celebrate the Constitution
Operation Safe Surf
Project PEACE
Law for Kids by Kids
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Bar Association offers a collection of lessons and lesson plans, developed by teachers and lawyers, for K-12 students.
Mission and Goals: Motivated to improve civic knowledge and participation in California, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye along with influential judicial and civic learning leaders and experts, have joined to elevate the status of civic learning and engagement and to revitalize democracy in California with the creation of Power of Democracy.
The Need and Urgency
K-12 Civic Learning Taskforce
Civil Learning Partnerships
Project REAL
The Foundation for Relevant Education About the Law's program, Project REAL, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was created in 2005 to meet the challenge of teaching K-12th grade Nevada students the importance of the law. The goal is to prepare Nevada's children to become involved, participating citizens who understand their social responsibilities and rights.
Project REAL offers a variety of programs that give students of all ages the opportunity to explore our judicial system, examine current controversial issues and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Project REAL Programs fully comply with state and county educational standards.
Your Day in Court
Foundations of Democracy
REAL Drama
Sandy Wilbur Music
Sandy Wilbur Music has produced three civics/music educational videos designed as teaching tools for teachers of music, history, social studies and civics and helping kids learn about important documents, concepts and values. "We The People " helps kids learn the Preamble to the Constitution and how the three branches of government work. "Four Score and Seven Years Ago " sings part of the Gettysburg Address and touches on the Civil War, Lincoln and equality. "She Still Carries A Torch " is about the Statue of Liberty and what it means to the millions of immigrants who have come to this country in search of freedom.
Supreme Court of Ohio Civic Education Program
65 South Front Street
Point of Contact: Jay Wuebbold, Civic Education Section
Mission and Goal: The Supreme Court of Ohio Civic Education Program is dedicated to informing citizens about the judiciary, with the aim of building trust through knowledge and understanding. The initiative employs many and varied approaches: off-site court, a visitor education center, guided tours, classroom lesson plans and a public lecture series.
The program is built on a foundation of innovation and continues to move forward with new initiatives. Students are the primary, but not exclusive audience. The education center and online lesson plans offer dynamic learning opportunities that provide an inside look at Ohio courts. We effectively use case narratives that personalize and define the courts, making sometimes-complex concepts understandable on many levels, crossing age groups and cultures.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: In Ohio v Smith the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled police are required to obtain a warrant before searching data in a cell phone seized during an arrest. It is the basis of a lesson plan for classroom discussion about the Fourth Amendment. Posted online, it includes a link to the video stream of the oral arguments, a summary of legal issues and the court's decision. Now in its fourth year, the Forum on the Law lecture program features speakers and topics that attract the general public and legal professionals.
The Ohio Judicial Center Foundation provided $30,000 for grants to 100 financially strapped schools to help cover costs to visit the Supreme Court and its education center during the past school year.
Street Law, Inc.
1010 Wayne Avenue
Street Law, Inc. creates classroom and community programs that teach people about law, democracy, and human rights worldwide. Street Law's accessible, engaging, and interactive programs empower students and communities to become active, legally-savvy contributors to society.
Founded by a group of visionary Georgetown University law students in 1972, the organization's work now spans 40 nations and reaches thousands of people every year. Although some initiatives bring staff directly into classrooms and neighborhoods, most efforts are focused on training individuals and organizations to become effective Street Law educators.
Street Law develops and implement interactive teaching methods that equip teachers, law students and lawyers, and other volunteers to educate students of all ages. They also provide top-flight professional development opportunities for educators and produce balanced, accurate curricular materials for use in classrooms and community settings. The approach is practical, relevant, and experiential, blending legal content with innovative hands-on teaching strategies that actively engage young people in the learning process. As a result, Street Law participants benefit from "real life" lessons and insights, which they can use to effect positive change for the rest of their lives.
Street Law has an extensive resource library with free teaching materials. Along with the Supreme Court Historical Society, Street Law offers professional development to high school social studies teachers about the Supreme Court. This Institute takes place each June. Street Law's textbook, Street Law: A Course in Practical Law, now in its eighth edition, is used in classrooms across the U.S. Hundreds of lessons on law, democracy, human right, public policy, crime prevention, conflict resolution, and youth advocacy are contained within the book.
Street Law caters to:
Teachers and Educators
Lawyers, Law Students, and the Legal Community
Juvenile Justice Professionals
Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts
1112 Quince Street, SE
Olympia, Washington 98504-1170
Point of Contact: Margaret E. Fisher, Attorney
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: The Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has developed the Judges in the Classroom program, in which teachers may request a judge to present one of the interactive lessons that appear online. Lessons are provided for elementary, middle and high school levels.
The AOC participates in a unique Street Law program in which judges make the commitment to teach weekly in a local high school from the national textbook, Street Law: A Course in Practical Law. More than 25 pairings exist around the state of Washington. Some judges are in their seventh year of teaching Street Law, and two new sites are added annually. The judge/teacher pairs receive training, a classroom set of the textbooks and an onsite observation.
Wisconsin Supreme Court
16 East State Capitol
Point of Contact: Theresa Owens, Executive Assistant to Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson
The Wisconsin Court System has designed public education and outreach programs to promote public understanding of the role of the courts and enhance public confidence in the judicial system. The court system is committed to speaking with the people of the state about the judicial branch and listening to their concerns. The court system designs and provides programs that maintain a strong and vital connection between the courts and the communities we serve. The programs exist to strengthen this partnership, educate the public about the work of the courts, ensure access to justice for all, and provide outreach and educational tools for educators and local courts throughout the state.
Programs Developed/Distributed/Implemented: Courts Connecting with Communities is a new statewide outreach project initiated by Chief Justice Abrahamson. The project provides a "toolkit," a step-by-step manual and materials for twenty outreach programs. It also promotes a coordinated county-by- county approach that establishes outreach planning as a continuing project in individual communities.
Justice on Wheels takes the Supreme Court on the road to hold oral arguments in a
county courthouse. This program will celebrate its twentieth year in 2013.
Court with Class brings high school students to the state Capitol to watch an oral argument and meet with a justice.
Case of the Month provides teachers with a case synopsis, briefs, and a roadmap showing how cases come to the court. iCivics uses video games to provide students with interactive civics education.
The Speakers' Bureau connects the public and judges; Media Relations Seminars connect court information staff and news media; and Judicial Ride Along connects judges and legislators.
Other - Local courts and bar associations, Legislators and Executive Branch
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300 Newport Ave, Williamsburg VA 23185