About this conference

The Law & Citizenship Conference is an annual statewide gathering of teachers, professors, lawyers, and other civic and law-related education professionals who come together to share curriculum, effective teaching strategies, best practices, and the latest hot topic issues important to teachers. Teachers leave the conference prepared to spark lively classroom discussions and strengthen students' analytical skills. A great way to start the school year with new content, lessons, and ideas!  

Click HERE to view a draft of the 2019 sessions and schedule.

Featured Conference Sessions

Discussing Controversy in the Classroom: Methods and Resources for Success

To kick off the 2019 Conference, OCLRE Director of Programs Ryan Suskey will guide teachers through research and best practices on tackling controversial topics in the classroom. Drawing upon the work of Professor Diana Hess, this session will include advice on setting the stage for discussion, options for discussion models, and the ever-present question of grading the discussions!

Fostering Authentic Dialogue in the Classroom

Dr. Tami Augustine from The Ohio State University School of Education will lead teachers through the process of creating space for authentic dialogue both in the classroom and within our own professional learning communities.

Counternarratives in the Social Studies

Dr. Todd Hawley of Kent State University School of Education will speak about the importance of including counternarratives (texts/voices that provide alternative views of historical and contemporary events) as an essential practice in social studies. Building from the “why” the session will provide practical advice of “how” to make your social studies curricula more inclusive and enriching for students.

Under Advisement: Ohio Supreme Court Cases on Demand

Learn about the Supreme Court of Ohio’s newest education resource that brings the Court to your classroom! Civic Education Manager Sara Stiffler and Civic Education Coordinator Mason Farr will be on hand to walk teachers through the two cases currently available to help teachers engage their students in the work of the Ohio Supreme Court. The program includes lesson plans, video resources, and student handouts ready to incorporate into your classroom!

Deliberative Forums in the Classroom

Amy Lee, Director of the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability (IDEA) at The Ohio State University will be on-hand to show teachers a ready-to-use online platform for facilitating discussion in the classroom. The Common Ground for Action platform is a resource of the National Issues Forum (NIF) and is pre-loaded with a number of discussion guides and questions to get yours started. Be sure to bring a tablet or laptop to explore the platform during the session!

Questions can be referred to Ryan Suskey at rsuskey@oclre.org or 614-485-3506.

Pricing & Registration

Click Here to Register for the 2019 Law & Citizenship Conference

To keep costs lower for non-mock trial attendees, Conference registration does not include a copy of the case file. Attendees wishing to purchase a case file can do so at a significantly reduced rate as an "add-on."  (For example, if you would like to purchase the digital case and attend the conference and the PD it would be $170.)

Needing hotel accomodations? The Sheraton Capitol Square (walking distance to the Supreme Court) is offering a special rate of $129 per night for attendees of the Law & Citizenship Conference Sunday and Monday nights. To book,call 614.365.4500 and ask for in house reservations.

Not a member yet?  You can easily join while registering for any OCLRE program! 

Interested in presenting at the 2019 conference? Submit a session proposal  HERE!  All presenters receive free registration for the conference.

The 2019 Law & Citizenship theme is all about helping teachers feel comfortable and empowered to discuss the "big' issues happening in the world.

Click HERE to see a draft of the 2019 Conference Sessions. Please note, all sessions are subject to change prior to the conference date.

2019 Keynote Address: Political Radicalism in the Classroom

We are honored to welcome Tom Molnar, Judi Galasso, and Jonathan Duffy to speak during the 2019 Awards Luncheon. At a moment when we pause to celebrate the work of courageous and dedicated educators, Tom, Judi, and Jonathan will discuss the brave and important work they have started at Worthington Schools to help students engage in civil dialogue in our hyperpartisan world. Through their Political Radicalism class, they encourage students to not only study controversial figures and movements but to actually engage them in reasoned political discourse.  

Get a preview of what they will address at the conference in this Associated Press article.

Featured Conference Sessions

Discussing Controversy in the Classroom: Methods and Resources for Success
To kick off the 2019 Conference, OCLRE Director of Programs Ryan Suskey will guide teachers through research and best practices on tackling controversial topics in the classroom. Drawing upon the work of Professor Diana Hess, this session will include advice on setting the stage for discussion, options for discussion models, and the ever-present question of grading the discussions!

Fostering Authentic Dialogue in the Classroom
Dr. Tami Augustine from the Ohio State University School of Education will lead teachers through the process of creating space for authentic dialogue both in the classroom and within our own professional learning communities.

Counternarratives in the Social Studies
Dr. Todd Hawley of Kent State University School of Education will speak about the importance of including counternarratives (texts/voices that provide alternative views of historical and contemporary events) as an essential practice in the social studies. Building from the “why” the session will provide practical advice of “how” to make your social studies curricula more inclusive and enriching for students.

Under Advisement: Ohio Supreme Court Cases on Demand
Learn about the Supreme Court of Ohio’s newest education resource that brings the Court to your classroom! Civic Education Manager Sara Stiffler and Civic Education Coordinator Mason Farr will be on hand to walk teachers through the two cases currently available to help teachers engage their students in the work of the Ohio Supreme Court. The program includes lesson plans, video resources, and student handouts ready to incorporate into your classroom!

Deliberative Forums in the Classroom
Amy Lee, Director of the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability (IDEA) at the Ohio State University will be on-hand to show teachers a ready-to-use online platform for facilitating discussion in the classroom. The Common Ground for Action platform is a resource of the National Issues Forum (NIF) and is pre-loaded with a number of discussion guides and questions to get your started. Be sure to bring a tablet or laptop to explore the platform during the session!

To see last year's offerings, view the 2018 conference program contains a complete schedule of sessions and descriptions of each session. 

FAQ

Where is the conference held?

The 2019 Conference will be held at the Supreme Court of Ohio (65 S. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215).

What is included in the cost of registration?

Conference registration includes all sessions, meals, and events for the day(s) on which you have registered. Registration does not include lodging, dinner, or incidentals during your stay.

To keep costs low for non-mock trial attendees, the conference cost does not include a copy of the case file. Those wishing to purchase the case file can choose this as an add-on option at a significantly reduced cost. (total for conference and case file = $160 digital, $185 hard copy)

Can I earn CLE credit or contact hours for attending the conference?

The conference is not approved for CLE credit for attorneys at this time. All attendees will receive contact hour certificates for the number of hours they attended, which can be used by teachers for recertification or for district purposes.