America 250 Civics Coalition launches with conservative partners

By Stacy Mantle
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U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon marked the 238th anniversary of the Constitution by announcing a new federal priority on “patriotic education,” an initiative designed to elevate civic learning with an emphasis on American history, values and geography in schools.

The effort will prominantly feature two Valley-based organizations.

The Department of Education has joined with more than 40 conservative groups to launch the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, a national campaign leading up to the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. 

Unveiled on Constitution Day, Sept. 17, the coalition is co-led by the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit with ties to the Trump Administration and includes groups such as Phoenix-based Turning Point USA, the Heritage Foundation, Hillsdale College, Moms for Liberty and the Scottsdale-based Goldwater Institute.

“America’s education system has utterly failed in its responsibility to instill an understanding and appreciation of the Constitutional principles of our republic,” said Matt Beienburg, director of education policy at the Goldwater Institute. “However, the Goldwater Institute has been actively supporting professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers and college students in Arizona, working in collaboration with constitutional scholars at the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University to deliver intensive workshops on foundational topics like free speech, federalism and the separation of powers. We have encountered many students and aspiring teachers who have lamented that they had never before meaningfully studied the basic principles of our Constitutional system while in K-12 or college.”

According to Meghan Petty, communications associate of the America 250 Civics Education coalition, “The coalition’s shared goal is to reignite the fires of patriotism, strengthen civic literacy and inspire Americans of all ages to understand and cherish our founding principles as the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary in July 2026.  Our work is not about politics — it's about ensuring every American, regardless of background or belief, understands and appreciates the principles that unite us as a nation.”

The initiative pledges to “renew patriotism, strengthen civic knowledge and advance a shared understanding of America’s founding principles” through classroom resources and community events.

McMahon said the project “...will take bold steps to educate, inspire and mobilize youth toward active and informed citizenship.”

“In the American system, educated citizens who know their rights and embrace their responsibilities cooperate to build a more perfect Union,” McMahon in a press release. “It is imperative to promote an education system that teaches future generations honestly about America’s Founding principles, political institutions and rich history."

Dept of Education Secretary Linda McMahan announces the creation of the America 250 Civics Education Coalition

Department of Education

"The Arizona School Boards Association supports high-quality, nonpartisan civics education that promotes critical thinking, respectful dialogue and a well-rounded understanding of history and government," said Heidi Vega, president of the National School Public Relations Association. "Arizona has long required civics instruction and assessment for high school students. As new national initiatives emerge, ASBA remains focused on ensuring local school boards and educators retain the ability to implement state-approved standards in a balanced and accurate way."

The coalition has announced a 50-state college speaking tour and a Fundamental Liberties College Speaker Series in its first year.

Leaders from Hillsdale and Turning Point say the programming will focus on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

“Together, we are building a movement that will ensure the next generation understands America’s founding principles and carries them forward with confidence and pride,” said Greg Sindelair, interim president of the American First Policy Institute. 

While they did not respond to a request for comment prior to press time, Turning Point USA, which includes Turning Point Education, stated in a press release it is “more resolved than ever to advance God-centered, virtuous education for students flourishing across our nation”.

 “With that in mind, we are honored to partner with the distinguished organizations that comprise the America 250 Civics Education Coalition to restore, revive and reclaim robust American civics education for all students throughout our country," said Dr. Hutz H. Hertzberg, chief education officer of Turning Point Education, in the release.

Dr. Larry Arnn, the president of Hillsdale College echoed these sentiments in a press release.

"We celebrate Lincoln for his greatness in recalling the nation to the principles of its birth, the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the most beautiful political document in history," Arnn said. "It is time to repeat his work and the work of Jefferson and the Founders. We will work together to learn those principles, and for the love of them we will have a grand celebration.”

Implications for Arizona

Arizona has long required high school students to pass a civics test, and the state has been at the center of national debates on “patriotic education.” The America 250 Civics Education Coalition’s partnership with the Goldwater Institute suggests Arizona could be an early proving ground for its programming.

The coalition’s work will culminate in July 2026, when the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Organizers say the effort is meant to ensure young Americans “treasure our freedoms” and are equipped to carry them forward.

While the America 250 Civics Education Coalition emphasizes patriotism and founding ideals, Arizona’s own history raises questions about how such narratives will be applied in classrooms.

Currently, the state’s social studies standards ask students to study multiple perspectives and evaluate not only the triumphs of U.S. history, but also its tensions and contradictions.

One example is Arizona’s Native American history. Arizona has one of the largest Indigenous populations in the country, with 22 federally recognized tribes and more than 350,000 Native residents.

Arizona’s role in America’s wars also poses challenging approaches and questions. From the Buffalo Soldiers stationed at Fort Huachuca, to Japanese-American internment camps in Arizona established during World War II in places like Poston and Gila River, the state’s contributions to national defense have been intertwined with civil rights struggles. 

Even contemporary issues — such as immigration, water allocation in the state and border policy — form a piece of Arizona’s civic fabric. Each of these issues are explicitly referenced in the state’s standards. Balancing patriotic celebration with frank discussions about exclusion, civil rights movements and local history will be crucial if coalition programming is to resonate with Arizona teachers, students and families.

“While the Institute has also actively supported past efforts such as the American Civics Act to require graduates to pass the U.S. citizenship test, it is essential that students also study the underlying principles behind our system of government, many of which were brilliantly articulated in resources like The Federalist Papers,” said Beienburg. “The Institute looks forward to expanding the reach of robust, civics education to students and teachers across Arizona and the nation amid the A250 efforts.

Whether the initiative becomes a bridge that strengthens civic literacy or a flashpoint in the nation’s culture wars will likely depend on how it is implemented in classrooms and communities.

“Cultivating an appreciation for the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution — a government of enumerated powers intended to protect the inalienable rights of our citizens — is not a partisan issue,” said Beienburg. “It is unfortunate that so many narratives about our nation popularized on the left have actively undermined that message.”

The coalition launched its work with an opening roundtable and outlined plans for the year ahead. Over the next 12 months, it will roll out a slate of programming beginning with the "Fundamental Liberties College Speaker Series" and continuing with a 50-state campus tour — all designed to bring its civics message directly to students, educators and communities nationwide.

"We support the authority of locally elected school boards and the communities they serve to make independent decisions that reflect local values and educational priorities," Vega said. "Our priority is preparing students to be informed, engaged members of society."

We reached out to several local reservations for additional comment about Arizona's complex history, but had not received responses by press time. 

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.