Revolutionary Schools

Program Introduction

In 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. This historic milestone offers New Jersey school districts a powerful opportunity to reinvigorate their K-12 social studies curriculum by integrating local history, civic engagement, and hands-on learning. By highlighting the state’s role in the Revolution and encouraging active participation in democratic practices, students can develop a deeper understanding of their heritage and a stronger connection to their communities.

The NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) and RevolutionNJ invites K-12 schools and districts to become official educational partners in this momentous commemoration, which will take place during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The activities and supports developed as part of this effort are designed to last beyond the commemoration and be incorporated as curriculum staples to strengthen social studies education in New Jersey for years to come.

Program Goals

The Revolutionary Schools program will encourage and celebrate schools that emphasize and elevate social studies and civics education. A Revolutionary School is an officially recognized partner of the NJ Department of Education and RevolutionNJ, and will receive:

  • Advance notice of opportunities at kick-off events and conferences.

  • Regular updates on new educational materials and events.

  • Access to instructional resources about New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution.

  • Collaboration opportunities with historians and educational experts.

  • Standards-aligned instructional activities and educational materials.

  • Professional development to support the implementation of educational programs.

  • Field trip directory of local historical sites.

  • Networking opportunities with educators from across the state.

  • Use of the official RevolutionNJ Revolutionary School logo.

Become a Revolutionary School!

Engage in a class- or school-wide civics initiative to promote the ideals of the American Revolution and foster active civic participation.

  • Incorporate RevolutionNJ educational program(s) into your curriculum (History Happened Here or Foundations of Democracy).

  • Share exemplary social studies instructional practices.

  • Make social studies instruction accessible to all students and elevate the importance of civics and history instruction in all grades.

  • Share information about local and statewide semiquincentennial-related events and commemorations.

Educational Initiatives

Participate in a civics initiative that inspires students and the community through discussions, projects, and activities focused on democracy, liberty, and civic responsibility, ultimately cultivating informed, engaged citizens who embody the spirit of the American Revolution.

  • History Happened Here engages students in grades 5-12 in local historical research at museums and archives while fostering civic engagement and a deeper sense of place.

  • Foundations of Democracy is a civics guide for elementary educators that provides an instructional framework for fostering active citizenship and democratic classrooms.

  • “Revolutionary Lives: Living the American Experiment Then and Now,” a Traveling Exhibition / Coming June 2025

  • “A Bundle of Silences” Video: Reimagining Interpretive Approaches to the Past

Educational Resources