Applications are now open for the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project. The Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project is a national program that places law students in local public high schools to teach constitutional law. The national program provides some resources (textbooks, lessons, etc.) and some institutional guidance. Generally, the selected law students serving as teaching Fellows run the program independently and design engaging classwork for high school students.
The Fellows will focus on teaching the Bill of Rights and related doctrine with an emphasis on equipping students with oral advocacy skills which can be used for the Marshall-Brennan moot court competition held in the spring semester. The focus is on modern, relevant case law which students can interact with, and form opinions on, in a discussion-based setting.
This curriculum is distinct from existing programs that place law students in public schools because the Marshall-Brennan Project focuses on relevant doctrine as well as know-your-rights (Street Law). The Marshall-Brennan curriculum also includes a competition element that provides an opportunity for the top students from each school to compete against students from other schools and national chapters.
Working alongside classroom teachers, the Fellows will educate students on constitutional issues related to privacy and transgender rights in schools. By the end of the semester, the high school students will develop a set of oral advocacy and civic engagement skills, a deeper understanding of inclusivity, and an appreciation for principles of constitutional law. Fellows also attend a weekly seminar together with the sponsoring adjunct professor, Deionna Ferguson, to discuss educational law and policy scholarship, and Fellows receive 3 credit hours for their efforts.
More information can be found here. Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 8th. The application can be accessed here.