Civil Discourse Project

Building a more inclusive and understanding society through civil discourse
Collage of diverse groups, including college students, working professionals, and young children, engaged in civil discussions.

The Civil Discourse Project aims to address concerns about the state of discourse in the United States. To combat polarization and intolerance, it’s crucial to equip individuals, especially students and educators, with the skills necessary for civil dialogue. Drawing from psychology, ethics, and educational research, we seek to promote compassionate, respectful, and constructive conversations on challenging issues.

What is civil discourse?


For the purposes of this project, we define civil discourse as conversation about important but challenging issues that incorporate the values of care, compassion, and kindness, honest perspective taking, humility, integrity, and mutual respect.

Our goal is to identify materials for educators, teachers, school leaders, and parents to use both for themselves and to help students learn to engage in civil discourse.

Young teacher leads groups of diverse elementary school-aged students in a calm discussion.

Project objectives

  • Equip educators and students with the skills to engage in civil discourse.
  • Foster understanding and empathy across diverse perspectives.
  • Promote active listening, perspective-taking, and critical thinking.

Download the Civil Discourse Project summary (PDF, 109KB )opens in new window

Project toolkit

This project underwent rigorous development, including reviews by educators, pilots with students, and revisions based on feedback. The culmination of these efforts are these self-assessment tools, endorsed by the Ethics Committee and members of the Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education.

Please note: The Civil Discourse self-assessment tools are designed for personal reflection and development. They are not intended to be a formal evaluation or screening. We encourage practitioners to share their experiences with us and welcome any feedback. We encourage researchers to seek appropriate Institutional Review Board review, and share their findings with us.

Young female teacher sits at desk in classroom writing notes on a notepad.

Guided self-reflection rubric and action plan (PDF, 70KB) opens in new window

A tool for assessing and enhancing civil discourse skills, focusing on positive behaviors and self-reflection
Teacher presents topic in front of classroom of high school students.

Guide for educators, including student self-assessment (PDF, 113KB) opens in new window

A tool for assessing and enhancing students’ civil discourse skills and suggestions for educators to use when working with students
Diverse group of high school students stand outside school engaged in conversation.

Self-assessment for middle and high school students (PDF, 59KB) opens in new window

A tool for assessing and enhancing civil discourse skills for students focusing on positive behaviors and self-reflection
Mother of student gives testimony in front of local school board.

Context needed for civil discourse (PDF, 56KB) opens in new window

Recommendations for creating an environment conducive to civil discourse in schools, considering factors such as leadership and parental involvement
Open laptop propped up against a stack of books in the library.

References (PDF, 127KB) opens in new window

A list of scholarly sources informing the project’s development
Older male teacher sits at desk in classroom using laptop.

Online teaching resources (PDF, 129KB) opens in new window

Curated online resources for educators to incorporate civil discourse skills into their curriculum effectively
teacher talking with students in classroom

Civil Discourse Self-Assessment Tool for Students for Grades 3-5 (PDF, 70KB) opens in new window

A tool for assessing and enhancing civil discourse skills for students in grades 3-5, focusing on positive behaviors and self-reflection
young children raising hands in a classroom

Guide to Improving Civil Discourse in the Classroom and to Using the Self-Assessment Tool for Students for Grades 3-5 (PDF, 741KB) opens in new window

A tool for teachers to support the assessment and enhancement of students's civil discourse skills, including suggestions and rsources for educators to use when working with students.

Get involved


Join us in promoting civil discourse in education and society. Whether you’re an educator, researcher, student, parent, or policymaker, your commitment to fostering respectful dialogue can make a difference.

For inquiries or to get involved, please contact: Senior Director, Nicole Barnes, PhD, or the APA Ethics Office.

For additional accessible, easy to use, and evidence-based resources for educators, counselors, and administrators, please visit the Applying Psychological Science in pre-K to 12 Schools and Education.

Three teachers, including one African American man, one Caucasian woman, and one Latino woman, stand in a hallway engaged in discussion.

Contributors to the Civil Discourse Project

  • Project team lead: Mary Brabeck, PhD
  • Ray Cross, MA
  • Beth Doll, PhD
  • Rob McEntarffer, PhD
  • Breeda McGrath, PhD
  • Olivia Moorehead-Slaughter, PhD
  • Patricia H. A. Perez, PhD
  • Sara Rimm-Kaufman, PhD
  • Rena Subotnik, PhD
  • Steven Turner, MEd
  • Jane Vogler, PhD
  • Kathryn Wentzel, PhD
  • Sheila G. Young, PhD
  • April Stokes, MA
  • Christian Last
  • Nicole Barnes, PhD
  • Joan Freund
  • Micah Gottlieb, MS
Last updated: September 2025Date created: July 2024