K12 Programs

What are CivicLex’s K12 Programs?

In 2023, CivicLex launched a new set of programs serving young people in Fayette County, Kentucky. Led by our Director of Civic Education, Stephanie Mobley, our K12 programs reach thousands of students across Lexington each year.

Bringing CivicLex’s existing resources on local government into the classroom

We’ve modified our already existing workshops on local government and municipal budgeting to help Fayette County teachers meet the Kentucky Academic Standards for Social Studies while also being developmentally appropriate. Our staff of experienced educators can bring these resources into your classroom!

Interested in connecting with us? Reach out using the form below.

Hosting Civic Expos at high schools to help students connect with Lexington’s civic life

Civic Expos bring community organizations, city departments/divisions, and Councilmembers together to connect with students on a personal level about their work and impact in Fayette County. Set up similarly to job fairs, they instead focus on civic and community engagement.

During the 23/24 school year we hosted 6 Civic Expos which brought together a total of 2,850 students and 129 community organizations! We look forward to continuing these successful events in the coming school years.

Helping students become civically engaged

We work with teachers in FCPS to support students who are working on a Civic Action Project. Students identify an issue within their community, research it, and then propose a solution to the issue.

Then, we host groups from each high school to present their Civic Action Project proposals. Projects are evaluated by guests and prizes are awarded. Guests include government leaders and community partners, many who attended previous Civic Expos.

After students complete their Civic Action Project, many students are eligible to receive the Kentucky Civic Seal through the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office and the Kentucky Council for the Social Studies. Learn more about the Civic Seal here.

Immersing teachers in local government

Our Teacher Externship program is a series of half-day field trips, where teachers leave the classroom and get real world exposure to the variety of career paths in local government. These visits involve 5-6 teachers from a specific academy track visiting departments and locations within local government that are relevant to their students’ academic pathway. This strengthens community connections and provides volunteering and internship possibilities for students.

In fall of 2024, 20 teachers participated in our Teacher Externship program where they were able to visit 12 different departments within local government.

Work with us

If you are interested in bringing CivicLex into your classroom or getting involved in our K12 work, reach out using the form below.