Philadelphia, PA (October 27, 2025) — The National Constitution Center announced today the launch of the Civic Education for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) Fellowship, a three-year initiative to expand access to constitutional learning and civil dialogue in rural and remote areas across the United States. Chosen through a competitive national application process, CERRC fellows will receive advanced training from the National Constitution Center’s scholars and education team, preparing them to deliver immersive, high-impact professional learning for educators in areas where high-quality resources training is not typically accessible.
Launched with the support of a multiyear, multimillion-dollar investment and subsequent dedicated funding, the fellowship’s pilot phase will focus on constitutional topics such as the First Amendment, religious liberty, and the Fourth Amendment.
“This first-of-its-kind fellowship empowers the National Constitution Center, in partnership with the nation’s leading civic educators, to deliver professional learning to teachers and students across the country. It marks a significant expansion of one of our core institutional priorities—ensuring that every community has access to the highest-quality civic education resources and pedagogy. We’re thrilled to extend the reach of civic learning to the rural and remote communities that need it most—communities that too often lack access to cultural institutions and exemplary professional development opportunities,” said Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education at the National Constitution Center.
Rural and remote communities—home to roughly 60 million Americans—often lack access to the rich programming and professional learning opportunities available in major metropolitan areas. As the nation approaches America’s 250th anniversary, the NCC is committed to reaching these communities with trusted, nonpartisan resources and inspiring students and teachers to rededicate themselves to the Constitution’s founding principles.
The NCC will pilot the CERRC Fellowship, selecting five of the nation’s top middle and high school educators to serve as fellows for one to two years with the goal of maintaining a sustained presence in selected rural and remote communities in every major region of the United States. CERRC Fellows will help ensure that geography is never a barrier to understanding the Constitution—or to participating fully in civic life.
Fellows—either current classroom educators on sabbatical or educators who have left the classroom within the last three years—will travel multiple times per year to rural and remote communities to lead on the ground and virtual professional development workshops. Between on the ground visits, fellows will host virtual sessions, weekly office hours for educators, and foster peer-to-peer connections among teachers across the regions.
“Access to the content shared during these sessions is essential, but the additional component of building a sustained community of educators is paramount,” noted Sarah Harris, senior director of teacher and student programs at the National Constitution Center. “Ensuring there is always someone available to support rural and remote educators, some of whom are the only social studies teachers in their schools, is a vital piece of the success of the National Constitution Center’s professional learning opportunities.”
Through a highly selective application process, fellows will be chosen, trained, and deployed during the 2026–2027 academic year. By the end of the three-year grant period, the NCC expects to train 7–8 fellows serving 100–160 teachers annually.
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About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
