Our Mission

Strenthening Democracy One Classroom at a Time

The Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC) strengthens American democracy by providing elementary and secondary students with hands-on learning about the Constitution to prepare them for informed civic engagement.  Nonprofit and nonpartisan, CRFC designs and conducts local, national, and international programs that emphasize current and historical controversies involving rights, law, and policy.  CRFC was founded in 1974 as part of the Constitutional Rights Foundation in Los Angeles and became an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 1990.

CRFC reaches the nation’s youngest citizens through:

Student Programs

CRFC’s student programs promote the nonpartisan discussion of controversial public issues to help students understand multiple perspectives and promote greater civility in American democracy.  CRFC uses real-life constitutional questions so students can determine their own answers and find their own voices on civic issues.

Teacher Training

CRFC provides research-based professional development to support educators when teaching the Constitution and American democracy.  Teachers learn in-depth content about the American legal and governmental systems, as well as ways to incorporate interactive methods such as mock trials, Socratic discussions, case studies, and role-plays into their classrooms.

Resource Experts in the Classroom

CRFC engages expert adults from the community with students of all ages to demonstrate the power of the law as an instrument of self-government.  Lawyers, judges, legislators, police officers, and other public officials are recruited and prepared to work with teachers and students.  CRFC’s resource experts infuse civics lessons with authenticity and real world experience.

Innovative Curricula

CRFC’s interactive, classroom-tested curricula are designed for use in government, Constitution, civics, and other social studies classes.  Curricula provide students with background on our legal and political systems and challenge them to apply this knowledge through case studies, mock trials, discussions, and other interactive means.