Eight ways to take part
From signing the civility pledge to bringing a federal courthouse program to your school — here's how students can get hands-on with civil discourse.
What getting involved looks like
From taking the civility pledge to bringing a federal courthouse program to your school — here are the ways students can get hands-on with civil discourse.
Take the Civility Pledge
Commit to engaging respectfully with people you disagree with. Download the pledge, sign it, and share it with your school or community.
Download the pledge →Bring CD3 to Your School
The U.S. Courts' Civil Discourse & Decision Making program brings students to a real federal courthouse for a hands-on civil discourse experience with a real judge. High schools and law schools across the country have done it.
Learn about CD3 →Practice with an Online Dialogues Debate
Online Dialogues runs structured civil discourse debates where students practice disagreeing well. Some colleges are now accepting civility transcripts as part of admissions.
Explore Online Dialogues →Follow Civility Organizations
A curated list of civility and civil discourse organizations — non-profits, university programs, and advocacy groups — all working to make disagreement healthier.
See the full list →Complete a Civility Leadership Program
A structured leadership program for students who want to go deeper on civility skills and become advocates in their schools and communities.
Video coming soonModel Civility with Courts & Civility
A Federal Bar Association program that brings judges and lawyers into schools to model respectful dialogue and explain why civility is essential to the courts and civic life.
Learn about Courts & Civility →Become a Civility Ambassador
Represent Students4Civility at your school, lead conversations, and help build a culture of respectful disagreement in your community.
Coming soonUse Our Toolkit to Start a Civility Club
Form letters, instructions, and templates to help you launch your own civility club at your school. Everything you need to get started.
Toolkit coming soonCivil Discourse & Decision Making
A four-hour, hands-on program where students visit a real federal courthouse, learn to have respectful conversations about tough topics, and put those skills to work in a mock case before a real judge — stepping into the role of lawyer or juror on real-life issues.
How to bring CD3 to your school
To bring CD3 to your school, contact your local federal courthouse's public outreach office. Many circuits actively seek school partners — both high schools and law schools.
Schools that have done CD3
1L students learn key legal skills through civil discourse and difficult decisions.
Read more →First-year civil discourse program puts respectful dialogue at the center of legal education.
Read more →A high school CD3 example — students visited a federal courthouse and argued real issues before a sitting judge.
Read more →Practice your skills with a civil discourse debate
Online Dialogues runs structured civil discourse debates that give students a safe space to practice disagreeing well — listening carefully, engaging with opposing views, and finding common ground. Some colleges are now accepting civility transcripts as part of their admissions process, recognizing that the ability to engage respectfully across differences is a real and valuable skill.
Colleges Will Give a Leg Up to Students Who Demonstrate Civility →Visit Online Dialogues →Follow civility-focused organizations
A curated list of non-profits, university programs, and advocacy groups working to make disagreement healthier — great starting points for anyone who wants to go deeper.
Research-based tools that teach people to bridge divides and talk across differences.
Visit →A governors' initiative promoting healthier political conflict and problem-solving.
Visit →Promoting civil discourse and reducing political dysfunction.
Visit →A network of organizations working to strengthen American democracy through civic engagement.
Visit →Bringing liberals and conservatives together to reduce political polarization.
Visit →Structured conversations that help people across the political divide find common ground.
Visit →University program building skills for respectful dialogue across difference.
Visit →Georgetown University's program for structured cross-partisan dialogue.
Visit →Judges and lawyers modeling respectful dialogue for students.
Visit →Structured civil discourse debates for students, with civility transcripts accepted by some colleges.
Visit →Want to bring civility to your school?
Whether you're a student, teacher, or administrator, we'd love to help you start the conversation.
Reach out →