December 02, 2016
Print Press Release

WHAT: Students across Arizona will show off their Constitutional wisdom this December! On December 3rd, schools in Arizona will compete in the “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” annual District competitions to demonstrate student’s knowledge and application of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. The top 10 schools will advance to the State Competition held January 13th, 2017 to be held at Mesa Community College! We encourage you to capture this opportunity and witness these live simulated hearings. Cameras and other recording devices are strongly encouraged. Help these Arizona students showcase their amazing abilities. The winner of the State competition will advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C. in April.

WHEN: Saturday, December 3rd, 2016

WHERE: Across State (see below for different regions)

WHO: Judges, legislative members, and members of the educational & legal community will judge over 400 students at the competitions.

Regional Teams:

Region 1 @ Prescott High School, 8am

-Prescott High School

-Chino Valley High School

Region 2 @ Center for Academic Success #5 -Center for Academic Success #5 (showcase team)

Region 3 @ Desert View High School

-Challenger Middle School (3 showcase teams) -Desert Shadows Middle School (showcase team) -Coronado K-8 School (showcase team) -Sunnyside High School (2 competing teams) -Sierra Middle School (showcase team) -Paul H Huber Middle School (showcase team) -Academy of Tucson High School (showcase team)

Region 4 @ Lake Havasu High School

-Lake Havasu High School (2 competing teams) -Mohave High School (2 competing teams)

Region 5 @ Hamilton High School

-Gilbert High School (2 competing teams) -Hamilton High School -Highland High School -Gilbert Classical Academy

Regions 6 and 7 @ Skyline High School

-ASU Preparatory Academy

-Mesa High School (showcase team)

-Dobson High School

-Stapley Junior High School (showcase team) -Skyline High School -Marcos de Niza High School -Red Mountain High School -Corona del Sol High School -Pan-American Charter School (showcase team) -Westwood High School -Franklin Police & Fire High School -Imagine Charter School (showcase team) Gilbert

About Arizona’s “We the People” Program

The Program encourages active learning in and out of the classroom about contemporary constitutional issues, the history of democratic philosophy and the history surrounding the creation of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. “We the People” also meets Arizona Academic Standards in Civics and Government and Language Arts. Each “We the People” team competing consists of a regularly rostered class of juniors or seniors who are studying civics and government or history. Ten out of the past eleven years, Arizona teams have placed within the top ten. In 2002, Dobson High School placed first in the “We the People” National Competition. The “We the People” Program is sponsored and administered by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the Center for Civic Education.

About the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education provides technical and financial assistance to legal aid organizations, schools and community groups. The Foundation promotes “Access to Justice for All Arizonans” by supporting law-related education and free legal services and by promoting statewide collaborative efforts. The Foundation plays a leading role in preparing Arizona students for civic responsibility and reaches more than 100,000 children each year by training teachers, school resource officers and probation officers about our laws, justice system and the foundations of democracy. It is also home of LawForKids.org, America’s first Web site dedicated to teaching students about the law.

Helpful Websites

· Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education: http://www.azflse.org

· We the People-The Citizen and the Constitution: http://www.azflse.org/Wethepeople

· Center for Civic Education: http://www.civiced.org