Thank you for your interest in serving as a volunteer at this year's Simulated Congressional Hearings (SCH) taking place at Howard County elementary schools.
This is a great opportunity for you to be involved in an inspiring and uplifting event that showcases what our students have learned. It would be an honor to have you judge in-person for our 2026 SCH.
This event is a performance assessment that culminates our fifth-graders’ year of social studies instruction. The students will serve as experts on issues related to the Constitution. Your task will be to simulate the role of a congressperson by listening to students, asking questions, and providing feedback. For those that have judged before, this year we have made several improvements to ensure what you see and hear is truly what the students have learned. The responsibility is on the students to compile their speech and research the follow-up questions.
You do NOT need to be a constitutional scholar to be a great judge. It will be the students’ job to teach you. We will provide all the training you need on the morning of the event prior to the start of the hearings. The civic participation of community members like you is critical to the success of the program.We are grateful for your partnership. Please complete this form to register as a volunteer at one or more of our elementary schools.
Please save the date(s) on your calendar now. Spaces are limited and will be assigned on a first come basis. One week before your scheduled SCH, we will provide you with additional materials and information. There will be a waiting list in the event that another judge has to cancel and those needed will be notified as soon as possible.
We appreciate your role in honoring the work of our students and educators as we lift up civic education in Howard County together. Thank you for considering this request to impact students’ understandings and experiences in social studies.
