It is a vital time for schools to engage—or reengage—in civil discourse.
As we prepare to fulfill our roles as citizens by examining and discussing the issues driving the midterm elections, how can we create school communities that are open to diverse perspectives? How can we ensure faculty can navigate difficult conversations fairly and effectively? How can schools provide students with meaningful opportunities to communicate, deliberate, and actively listen to each other?
As part of NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026, Close Up is inviting school teams of educators—both teachers and administrators—to join us for our multi-day Civil Discourse Lab in July. As teachers gain the training and skills to implement our Civil Discourse Credential in their classrooms, administrators will focus on supporting teachers and fostering a schoolwide culture of civil discourse. Together, both tracks of educators will witness a powerful model of deliberation in practice—by observing students in action in their concurrent deliberations at NextGen Roundtable: Decision 2026.
