About State Programs

The Capitol Forum statewide programs takes place in the classroom and at the state capitol. The centerpiece of the program in each state takes place in the spring when 80 to 100 high school students from 20 schools come to their state capitol as class representatives for an all-day forum. They deliberate about the role they believe the nation should play in an increasingly complex international environment and join in an open forum to share their views with elected officials and policymakers.  

The program in each participating state begins with a professional development workshop for teachers in the fall and involves classroom preparation within the context of the participating teachers' regular courses. Following the spring forum at the state capitol, student representatives return to their own classrooms to lead their fellow students in a dialogue on international issues. The program culminates each year in a balloting activity in which all students participate.

Who runs the Capitol Forum? Statewide programs bring together a number of partners in each state, each making a unique contribution in order to bring the program to high school students.

  • The Capitol Forum is sponsored nationally by the Choices for the 21st Century Education Program at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. Choices provides content materials, national coordination, and overall structure to the program.
  • To carry the primary organizing responsibility in each participating state, the Choices Program works with a state-based organization that has an interest in international education and youth civic engagement. Partners have included humanities councils, departments of education, international studies centers at universities, and world affairs councils.
  • The office of the Secretary of State in each participating state plays a key role as the host at the state capitol and the entree to public officials. The Secretary of State also lends the program public authenticity, helping students make connections between their classroom studies and the making of public policy.
  • A "lead teacher" (or in some states two) is prepared by Choices to take a leadership role with participating teachers. S/he leads two professional development workshops, prepares participating teachers for their leadership roles at the forum, leads the forum, and participates as a member of the program's organizing team.

Program Endorsements:The Capitol Forum is endorsed by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), and the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

What Students Are Saying: See what students are saying about the Capitol Forum.

Capitol Forum Calendar: This calendar provides information on workshops and forums associated with the Capitol Forum.