Civic Seals & Civic Excellence Programs
Recognizing Nevada's civic learners, teachers, and schools.
Nevada formally honors excellence in civic education — a seal on a student's diploma, a designation for a school, and awards for the educators who make it happen. Everything you need to understand, prepare for, and apply is on this page.
Three ways Nevada recognizes civic excellence
- StudentsState Seal of Civics on the diploma + the $2,500 Civic Leader Student Award
- SchoolsSchool of Civic Excellence designation — valid up to 5 years, plaque and banner
- EducatorsCivic Leader Educator Award — a $1,776 classroom or PD grant
The framework
One law. Three designations. A shared rubric.
Nevada Senate Bill 194 (2021) established the State Seal of Civics Program and directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to designate a School of Civic Excellence, a Student Civic Leader, and an Educator Civic Leader. Schools and educators are evaluated on the same Civic Excellence Rubric, which looks at three domains: the School, the Classroom, and the Community.
Nevada Seal of Civics
A distinction on the diploma and transcript for seniors who meet the state's academic and civic proficiency requirements — including a service-learning project.
Civic Leader Student Award scholarship for post-secondary education.
See the requirements →School of Civic Excellence
A school-wide designation — much like STEM or STEAM — earned by submitting artifacts against the three-domain rubric. Certification is valid for up to five years.
Plaque, school banner, website recognition, and media opportunities.
See how schools apply →Civic Leader Educator Award
Honors K–12 teachers whose classrooms and community work reach the highest level of the rubric. Three educators are recognized each year — elementary, middle, and high school.
Classroom or professional development grant, plus a certificate or plaque.
See the requirements →For students & families
The Nevada Seal of Civics
The Seal of Civics recognizes high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional civic learning and engagement. It appears on the diploma and transcript, and it signals to colleges, employers, and communities that a student is ready to participate.
Grade point average — students must satisfy one of the following:
- 3.25 or higher GPA earned on a standard 4.0 grading scale, or
- 3.85 or higher weighted GPA on an alternative scale approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Social studies creditsAt least 3 credits in any social studies courses.
- Civics examinationScore at least 90% on the NRS 389.009 Nevada Civics Exam (may be taken a maximum of 2 times).
- Citizenship rubricSatisfactory score — 4 semesters in social studies with an average of 3.0 or above. Students must earn an overall score of at least "2."
- Service-learningSuccessfully complete a structured service-learning project, independently or as a class project. See project criteria →
The Civic Leader Student Award honors high school seniors who demonstrate leadership and commitment to civic engagement. Recipients receive a $2,500 scholarship toward post-secondary education, along with a certificate or plaque recognizing their excellence in civics education.
Academic requirements
- Achieve 90% or higher on the Nevada Civics Exam
- Complete at least 3 social studies credits
- Earn at least a 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or a 3.85 weighted GPA on an approved alternative scale)
- Score a 3 average in all classes using the Citizenship Rubric
Evidence & support
- Evidence of a completed service-learning project
- Two letters of support — one from an administrator, one from a teacher
- Evidence of civic leadership — media coverage, event flyers, student-created materials, awards, testimonials
For schools
School of Civic Excellence designation
Nevada schools can be formally designated a School of Civic Excellence — much like a STEM or STEAM designation. Schools submit artifacts demonstrating where they fall on the exemplar rubric across all three domains: the School, the Classroom, and the Community.
- Certification valid for up to 5 years
- A plaque and a school banner
- Recognition on the website and media opportunities
- Standing as a model site for civic learning across Nevada
- Review the rubricRead all three domains and honestly locate your school on each criterion.
- Gather artifactsMission and vision statements, budget and PD plans, pacing guides, student work, family communications, community partnership documentation.
- Map artifacts to criteriaEach rubric row should point to specific evidence, so reviewers can see the level you are claiming.
- Submit the applicationOne submission per school, signed off by an administrator.
For educators
Civic Leader Educator Award
The Civic Leader Educator Award honors Nevada K–12 teachers dedicated to civics education and engagement in their classroom and community. Recipients receive a $1,776 classroom or professional development grant to further their impact, along with a certificate or plaque. Three educators are recognized each year — one each at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
- The teacher's classroom ranks at the highest level (3 — Model) on the Classroom and Community portions of the Civic Excellence Rubric
- Regular integration of disciplinary civic skills, including informed action, into instruction
- Two letters of support — one from an administrator, and one from a colleague or community partner
- Evidence of civic leadership — lesson plans, student projects, community partnerships, professional learning leadership, media coverage, awards
Award levels, timelines, and the application link for the Civic Leader Educator Award have shifted between award years. Confirm the details for the current program cycle before you begin assembling your portfolio.
The Civic Excellence Rubric
Three domains, three levels
Schools are evaluated on all three domains. Educators applying for the Civic Leader Educator Award are evaluated on the Classroom and Community domains only.
| Criteria | 3 — Model | 2 — Established | 1 — Developing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission & Vision | The school's mission and vision have been centered in disciplinary skills for more than two years, and staff, students, families, and outside stakeholders understand and believe in the value of Civics. | The school's mission and vision are centered in disciplinary skills, all staff have bought in and work to achieve the Civics mission and vision, and the Civics mission and vision is beginning to be evident to outside stakeholders. | A core group of teachers and administrators at the school have begun formally redesigning its mission and vision to include disciplinary skills. Universal staff buy-in has not occurred. |
| Impact on Classrooms |
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| Collaboration & Planning | Administration has prioritized collaboration and reflection for Civics instructional planning, to the degree that all aspects of the school showcase a culture of collaboration and reflection. | Administration has prioritized collaboration and reflection by providing ongoing time, resources, and protocols for Civics instructional planning. | Administrators provide time, resources, and protocols for teachers to collaborate on Civics instruction. |
| Professional Learning | The school has a professional development plan which includes ongoing Civics and Disciplinary Skills based professional learning for all educators. | The school has provided Civics and Disciplinary Skills related professional development to all educators. | Optional school-sponsored group professional development is provided occasionally to educators that is aligned to the school's Civics mission and vision. |
| Equity Strategies in Use |
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| Criteria | 3 — Model | 2 — Established | 1 — Developing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructional Models | Students define and solve relevant and authentic (local and global) problems. Students design empathetic and diverse solutions to the problem. | Students define problems and work to solve them. Projects are open-ended with multiple possible solutions to problems. | Teachers identify and define problems, and students work to solve them. Projects are geared toward following directions and arriving at a uniform predetermined outcome. |
| Student Driven |
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| Standards Alignment | Comprehensive grade-level standards have been meaningfully organized into year-long pacing that ensures all students the opportunity to work toward mastery of all grade-level NVACS in Social Studies expectations through Civics experiences. | Civics instruction is aligned to grade-level standards, has grade-appropriate rigor, and uses the Disciplinary Skills as the foundation for planning. | Instruction is aligned to grade-level standards and has grade-appropriate rigor, but Civics learning is not yet fully aligned to all the disciplinary skills. |
| Focus on Process over Product | Students integrate self-reflection, new learning, and feedback from teachers, peers and guests into multiple iterations of their work during sustained inquiry, and can articulate the evolution of their thinking. | Students integrate self-reflection, new learning, and feedback from teachers, peers and guests into multiple iterations of their work. | Students receive and reflect on meaningful feedback from teachers or peers, but don't typically integrate reflections and feedback into new iterations of thinking or work. |
| Assessment Format |
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| Criteria | 3 — Model | 2 — Established | 1 — Developing |
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| Family Engagement |
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| Community Participation & Collaboration |
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Service-learning
What counts — and what makes it quality
Every student earning the Seal of Civics must complete a structured service-learning project, independently or as a class. Service-learning is "a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves" (Vanderbilt University) — an approach in which students use academic knowledge and skills to address genuine community needs.
The eight K–12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice
Meaningful Service
Activities are age-appropriate, personally relevant, engaging, connected to the underlying societal issue, and lead to attainable, visible outcomes valued by those being served.
Link to Curriculum
Used intentionally as an instructional strategy with clearly articulated learning goals, aligned to the curriculum, with knowledge transferred across settings and formally recognized in school records.
Reflection
Multiple challenging reflection activities — verbal, written, artistic, nonverbal — before, during, and after service, prompting students to examine assumptions and connect to public policy and civic life.
Diversity
Promotes understanding of multiple perspectives, builds conflict-resolution and group decision-making skills, values diverse backgrounds, and helps participants recognize and overcome stereotypes.
Youth Voice
Students generate ideas and make decisions across planning, implementation, and evaluation, in an environment of trust and open expression, with adults offering guidance rather than direction.
Partnerships
Collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships with youth, educators, families, community members, organizations, and businesses — communicating frequently around a shared vision and common goals.
Progress Monitoring
Participants collect evidence of progress and implementation quality from multiple sources, use it to improve, and communicate results to the broader community.
Duration & Intensity
Sufficient time — concentrated blocks across several weeks or months — to investigate needs, prepare, act, reflect, demonstrate learning and impact, and celebrate.
The service-learning cycle
The Silver State Coalition for Civic Education
Building Nevada's next generation of informed, engaged citizens
The Silver State Coalition for Civic Education is Nevada's statewide collaborative network dedicated to strengthening civic education through strategic partnerships, recognition programs, professional learning, and authentic civic engagement opportunities. Jointly convened by the Nevada Department of Education and the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, the Coalition brings together leaders from education, business, government, nonprofit organizations, higher education, and community partners.
Nearly half a million Nevada students are preparing to become tomorrow's workforce, business owners, community leaders, military members, voters, and public servants. High-quality civic education develops critical thinking, civil discourse, financial decision-making, problem-solving, collaboration, leadership, and community engagement. Yet the gaps are real and growing:
- Elementary social studies instructional time has declined as schools prioritize tested subjects.
- Many elementary teachers report limited time and confidence for teaching social studies.
- Civic learning opportunities vary significantly across schools and districts.
- Employers consistently rank communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making among the most important workplace skills — all strengthened through civic education.
- SB 194 (2021) created the State Seal of Civics and the School of Civic Excellence, Student Civic Leader, and Educator Civic Leader designations.
- Through Nevada's America 250 Commission, student scholarships and teacher classroom grants were launched.
- A School Civics Grant would complete a student–teacher–school trifecta mirroring the rubric's three domains.
- The service-learning requirement for the Seal of Civics calls for improved communication and training.
Ways to be involved
Invest
Support statewide programs that recognize excellence and expand student opportunities.
- Student scholarships
- Teacher recognition awards
- School recognition programs
- Mini-grants for civic education
- Student leadership initiatives
- Special statewide events
Engage
Share your expertise by connecting students with professionals and authentic experiences.
- Classroom speakers
- Career exploration
- Financial literacy volunteers
- Judges for competitions
- Student mentoring
- Service-learning partnerships
Collaborate
Work alongside educators and community leaders to strengthen civic education across Nevada.
- Program development
- Resource creation
- Community events
- Workforce readiness initiatives
- America 250 projects
- Advisory participation
Advocate
Help raise awareness of the importance of civic education throughout Nevada.
- Community outreach
- Public awareness campaigns
- Event sponsorship
- Employee engagement
- Social media promotion
- Collaborative communications
Start your application
Ready to apply — or want to talk it through first?
Whether you're a senior finishing a service-learning project, a teacher assembling a portfolio, or an administrator gathering artifacts for your school, we'll help you find the right next step.
chull@nvcce.org · nvcce.org
amanda.hughes@doe.nv.gov · doe.nv.gov