Never has there been a more important time for young people to connect across distance and divides, engage with diverse perspectives, and understand the key issues in our country. We know that young people want to be part of the national conversation and are eager to learn about and discuss current issues and the world around them. Close Up’s Student Voices program provides middle and high school students with the exciting opportunity to talk with other students from across the country and more!
Through a series of four online discussions designed and facilitated by Close Up instructors, students will engage with their peers nationwide to consider multiple perspectives and deepen their understanding of how public policy affects local communities. Our curriculum specialists will also provide teachers with a virtual professional development training session and ready-to-use classroom resources to support continued student discussion and understanding of the 2020 election.
Which issues raised in the 2020 presidential race are most important to students? Student Voices: Election Reflection Series helps students contextualize the campaigns and elections of 2020, make sense of the arguments they heard from the candidates, and focus on what comes next.
Program Offered: November and December
The first 100 days is often a time of great energy and action for an administration. Whether the president has been elected for the first time or newly reelected, the administration has momentum and political capital to use on high-priority issues. Student Voices: The President’s First 100 Days allows students to take part in this fast-moving period of national conversation and action.
Program Offered: January and February
Student Voices: Current Issues allows students to examine today’s most pressing issues and discuss actions policymakers have proposed to resolve those issues. They will examine major policies, evaluate proposals that represent a range of viewpoints, and develop their own ideas of how to best address the issues.
Program Offered: March through June
Program Dates: This program is offered on a rolling basis throughout the year. A Close Up Representative will work together with you to schedule your classroom discussions. Each program includes four 45-minute online discussions designed and facilitated by Close Up instructors, where students will engage with diverse peers nationwide to discuss current issues.
Program Cost: $900 per classroom
Grade Levels: Student Voices is designed for either middle (6-8th grade) or high school students (9-12th grade). Middle and high school discussions are held separately.
Participation in a Close Up program requires parent or guardian approval for any participants under 18 years of age.
Community Engagement Experience
Impact is a unique and engaging virtual program designed to help middle and high school students develop the skills necessary to pursue a passion, tackle a community need, and form a network with young leaders from across the U.S.
Learn More >Debate and Discuss the 2020 Election
Student Voices is a virtual program where students will interact with their peers nationwide and learn about the leading issues framing the 2020 election.
Learn More >100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment
Empowering Female Voices is a program that brings together girls from schools nationwide to help them develop empathy for other perspectives, gain skills, and build confidence.
Learn More >Confront Challenges Facing Our Democracy
Inspiring Civic Action is a virtual program where students can share their political values, deliberate critical policy issues, and build a virtual community.
Learn More >The Native Issues Online Summit is an online program for students to examine issues in their communities, nations, and the United States as a whole, and develop action plans to address those issues.
Learn More >Looking for meaningful ways to engage your students virtually, build community, or reimagine service-learning opportunities?
Learn More >Over 93% of students said Close Up’s virtual programs…
helped them understand the importance of using their voice to make change in their communities.