Educator Toolkit 2026-27 · Chapter 4 of 12

In the classroom

Why it works in a classroom, bill writing tips, and leadership and national opportunities.

The Program

Why It Works in the Classroom

Youth and Government builds the skills your state assessments measure, using real laws and real decisions.

Skills Students Build

  • Argument writing: a bill and its defense are an evidence-based argument.

  • Close reading: students read and amend real state statutes.

  • Research: students find data and weigh more than one side.

  • Speaking and listening: timed speeches, questions, and rebuttals.

  • Civic dispositions: respectful disagreement, compromise, and leadership.

Nonpartisan by Design

Youth and Government doesn’t support any party, candidate, or agenda. Students debate ideas, never people. A “con” speech means “here’s what could be better.”

In Rhode Island, students join simulated Conservative and Liberal parties as roles in the program, not real endorsements.

Using AI

AI is a tool and it’s fine to use, but it’s no replacement for knowledge, understanding, and experience. Students must understand and defend their own positions.

Middle School vs. High School

The Middle School program focuses on building confidence, basic critical thinking, and working with people. The High School program goes deeper into how government works and the specifics of law.

State connections

NYYouth and Government can count toward the Seal of Civic Readiness when the school’s Seal committee approves it. In grades 7 and 8, a student’s bill can serve as the Middle School Capstone (1 point). In high school, it may count as a Civics Project (1.5 points) or 40+ hours of civic extracurricular work (0.5 point). Details: nysed.gov/standards-instruction/criteria-earn-seal-civic-readiness. See the Civic Seal Units, “Two Lesson Plan Series to Download”.
NYThe Middle School program reinforces the argument writing and research skills on the grades 3 to 8 ELA assessments, and wraps up in November, months before spring testing.
CTStudents read real Connecticut statutes and defend evidence-based bills, building skills on the Smarter Balanced ELA assessment and the SAT School Day, and supporting the civics coursework Connecticut requires for graduation. A full standards alignment document is available on request. Civic Seal Units 1, 4, and 6 (see “Two Lesson Plan Series to Download”) can document the civic engagement project and portfolio evidence for the new State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement. The state sets the criteria, and each district decides whether to offer it.
RICivic Seal Units 1, 2, 3, and 7 (see “Two Lesson Plan Series to Download”) are designed to fit the Civic Literacy Act student-led civics project; confirm with your district.

...for teenagers just learning these concepts I believe this experience is invaluable.

Advisor and former social studies teacher, NY High School

The Program

Bill Writing Tips

A strong bill picks one clear problem and fixes it by changing a real state law.

The Parts of a Bill

  1. An Act To: one sentence naming the law you change and what the bill does. About 90% of bills amend an existing law.
  2. Purpose: one or two sentences on the spirit of the bill. It’s not an argument.
  3. Provisions: the step-by-step details: who oversees it, any penalties, and how it’s paid for. Strikethrough shows deleted text, and underline shows added text.
  4. Definitions: the 3 to 5 key terms. Write these last.

How Committees Rank Bills

Committees score quality, not agreement:

  • How clearly the bill states its purpose

  • Evidence of preparation

  • Importance to the state

  • Whether it’s realistic

  • Whether it’s debatable

A student can speak against a bill and still vote for it.

Tips for Success

  • Start from a problem students care about locally.

  • Find the current law first, then decide what to change.

  • Keep it narrow. One good change beats five vague ones.

  • Plan for the hard questions: who pays, who enforces, how you’ll know it worked.

  • Submit early. Students can revise until the Bill Book is finalized, about a week before the conference.

Need help?

Ask Drew for the Bill Writing Guide and bill template, or book a bill writing workshop for your students. If a link to an older resource gives a security warning, email us and we’ll send the file directly.

Where states differ

NY HSBills are written by teams of 2 to 4 students. A topic from a past year can return, but the research and writing must be the students’ own. Bills in correct format earn the Seal of State Approval.
NY MSEach delegation brings one bill for every 8 students (or part of 8). A bill can have 1 to 8 authors. Every student is a legislator; bill author is an extra role.
CTEach student usually writes one bill. The advisor completes the Bill Submission form.
RICommittees aren’t grouped by topic, so students hear a wide range of bills. Zoom help sessions with the youth officers run in the months before the conference.

The Program

Leadership and National Opportunities

Once students have a conference under their belts, there’s a lot more to do. All of these are optional.

Leadership Training

NYSteering weekends at the Hilton Garden Inn, Nanuet: Judicial Steering (December 12 to 13, 2026) trains Justices; Legislative Steering (February 27 to 28, 2027) trains Committee Chairs and the Cabinet. $120 per student, $180 per adult. Schools without student leaders don’t need to attend.
CTRILeaders train through online meetings before the conference.

National Conferences

CONA, the Conference on National Affairs

High school delegates write proposals on national issues and debate them with students from across the country. July 3 to 8, 2027, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, Black Mountain, North Carolina. $1,250.

NJC, the National Judicial Competition

Mock trial and appellate court for high schoolers. About $650 plus travel; budget about $1,200. Dates and host city coming soon.

Aid and payment plans are available for both. Payment timing never affects selection.

Service and Advocacy

Y-Corps (grades 9 to 12): a summer service trip with teens from several states. Members complete 50 service hours and raise $1,000 for the scholarship fund.

CTApplications due January 15, 2027.

National Youth Advocate Program: a free program where high schoolers learn federal policy advocacy and speak up in Washington, DC.

NYYouth Advocates Academy: builds up to State Advocacy Day, February 8 to 9, 2027. Applications due October 31, 2026.

National Civics Bee (grades 6 to 8): an essay and live civics competition. 2027 essays are due February 2, 2027.

How to apply for CONA and NJC

NYNational Conference submissions by March 1, 2027.
CTSelf-Nomination form by February 5, 2027.
RIPre-Conference Award Form by February 12, 2027.

Core values, not Y-Corps

Two names that sound alike: the YMCA core values (caring, honesty, respect, responsibility) guide every conference, including the core value speeches. Y-Corps is the summer service program above.