ABOUT CREATE250

Preparing Educators. Strengthening Constitutional Democracy. Inspiring the Next Generation of Citizens.

Democracy depends on citizens who understand the nation's history, constitutional principles, and enduring commitment to self-government. Preparing those citizens begins by preparing exceptional educators.

CREATE250 is a statewide initiative of the Center for Economic and Civic Learning at Ball State University dedicated to strengthening the teaching of American history and civics through sustained professional learning, scholarly engagement, and immersive educational experiences.

Created in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the United States, CREATE250 brings together educators, historians, constitutional scholars, civic leaders, and cultural institutions to deepen historical understanding, strengthen classroom instruction, and expand opportunities for meaningful civic learning across Indiana.

Building on the nationally recognized success of the original CREATE initiative, CREATE250 extends this work statewide—creating lasting partnerships, expanding educator networks, and equipping teachers with the knowledge, resources, and confidence to prepare students for thoughtful participation in our constitutional democracy.

Our Mission

CREATE250 strengthens the teaching and learning of American history and civics by providing educators with rigorous professional learning rooted in historical scholarship, constitutional principles, primary sources, and evidence-based instructional practice.

Through sustained collaboration and immersive educational experiences, the initiative prepares educators to cultivate civic knowledge, civic character, civic responsibility, and informed civic participation among the students they serve.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which every student has access to rich, engaging, and academically rigorous civic learning led by well-prepared educators who inspire curiosity, historical understanding, constitutional literacy, and responsible citizenship.

By strengthening teachers, building statewide partnerships, and connecting scholarship with classroom practice, CREATE250 seeks to advance civic learning that endures well beyond America's 250th anniversary.

Our Work

CREATE250 provides sustained professional learning designed to strengthen both educator expertise and student learning.

The initiative includes:

  • Statewide Community of Practice
  • Summer Institutes
  • Washington, D.C. civic immersion experiences
  • Primary-source seminars
  • Classroom innovation and curriculum development
  • Teacher leadership development
  • Civic learning resources
  • Research and continuous program evaluation

Together, these experiences create an ongoing professional community where educators learn from nationally recognized scholars, collaborate with colleagues, and translate new knowledge into meaningful classroom practice.

Our Educational Approach

CREATE250 believes that effective civic education requires more than learning historical facts.

Students must develop the knowledge, habits, and capacities necessary to participate thoughtfully and responsibly in a constitutional democracy.

Our work supports four interconnected dimensions of civic learning.

Civic Knowledge

Developing a deep understanding of American history, constitutional principles, democratic institutions, political development, geography, and the ideas that continue to shape public life.

Civic Skills

Strengthening students' ability to analyze primary sources, evaluate evidence, distinguish credible information, communicate effectively, engage in civil discourse, and think critically about public questions.

Civic Character

Cultivating intellectual curiosity, integrity, responsibility, perseverance, respect, intellectual humility, gratitude, and commitment to the common good.

Civic Agency

Preparing students to apply their knowledge and skills through informed participation in schools, communities, and democratic institutions.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

CREATE250 combines scholarly study with authentic, place-based learning.

Participants engage directly with nationally recognized historians, constitutional scholars, museums, archives, memorials, courts, legislatures, and other civic institutions while collaborating with educators from across Indiana.

These experiences help teachers connect historical scholarship with classroom practice and return to their schools with deeper content knowledge, expanded professional networks, and practical resources that strengthen student learning.

Why CREATE250?

The 250th anniversary of the United States provides an extraordinary opportunity to renew civic learning for a new generation.

CREATE250 encourages educators and students to examine America's founding, constitutional traditions, democratic institutions, and continuing pursuit of liberty, justice, equality, and self-government through careful historical inquiry and thoughtful engagement with evidence.

Rather than presenting history as a collection of simple answers, CREATE250 encourages educators and students to explore the people, ideas, debates, achievements, and challenges that continue to shape the American experience.

In doing so, the initiative prepares students not only to understand democracy—but to participate thoughtfully in its future.

Building a Statewide Community

One of CREATE250's greatest strengths is the community it creates.

Educators from rural, suburban, and urban schools come together to learn, share ideas, develop classroom resources, and support one another throughout the school year.

This statewide professional network extends learning beyond individual workshops, fostering long-term collaboration and continuous improvement that benefits educators, schools, and students across Indiana.

Join CREATE250

CREATE250 is building a statewide network of educators committed to strengthening American history and civic learning.

Whether you are a classroom teacher, instructional coach, school leader, higher education faculty member, or community partner, we invite you to become part of a growing community dedicated to preparing informed, responsible, and engaged citizens.

 

Complete the form below to receive program updates, professional learning opportunities, classroom resources, and CREATE250 news. 

 

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Our Mission and Vision

CREATE250 comes at a defining moment in our nation's history. As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, educators have a unique opportunity to deepen students' understanding of American history, constitutional democracy, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Preparing informed and engaged citizens requires high-quality civic education that is grounded in historical scholarship, primary sources, and thoughtful inquiry.

CREATE250 responds to this opportunity by strengthening the teaching of civics, American history, government, geography, and media literacy through sustained professional learning and evidence-based instructional practice. By supporting educators across Indiana, the initiative helps students develop the knowledge, skills, and civic character needed to participate thoughtfully in our constitutional democracy.

Our goal is to strengthen educators' content knowledge and instructional practice while increasing students' understanding of civics, American history, constitutional government, geography, and media literacy—preparing the next generation to engage thoughtfully and responsibly in civic life.

The CREATE project has five main components
Our Team and Project Partners