As the school bell rings, classrooms across the Peoria Unified School District begin their day with a simple yet powerful tradition: the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence. In addition, children in fourth through sixth grade recite the Preamble from the Declaration of Independence. It’s these daily rituals that set the tone for something deeper: an education rooted in the values our families share.
From kindergarten to senior year, every student, every day, is demonstrating patriotism and civic responsibility in Peoria Unified. For the more than 34,000 students who call Peoria Unified home, civics education comes to life through lessons taught by certified educators using the best resources available, ensuring they know the strong and rich history of our country and how it has evolved into what we know it as today.
This school year, students returned to class greeted by a refreshed social studies curriculum, designed to help them better understand their rights, responsibilities and the role they play in shaping their communities. The curriculum, available online for families and educators, emphasizes the importance of voting, civic duty and the historical foundations of American democracy.
In Peoria Unified, civics education and displays of patriotism don’t stop at textbooks.
In junior high, students take the stage in the annual Patriotic Speech Contest, where they share heartfelt reflections on what patriotism means to them. These speeches, often filled with personal stories and bold ideas, echo through school auditoriums and district offices, reminding everyone of the power of youth voices.
High schoolers with dreams of military service find their path through the district’s Air Force Junior ROTC programs. Last school year, more than 200 students took their first step into military service by enrolling in Air Force JROTC and completing more than 23,500 hours of work-based learning. These programs have launched students into prestigious institutions like the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, proving that the district’s commitment to leadership and service is transformative in the lives of alumni.
September is a particularly meaningful month in Peoria Unified. It’s a time when history comes alive through observances like:
9/11 Education Day (September 11): A solemn day of remembrance and reflection, where students learn about the events of September 11, 2001, and honor the lives lost.
Constitution Day (September 17): A celebration of the document that defines American democracy, encouraging students to explore its origins and relevance today.
Sandra Day O’Connor Civics Celebration Day (September 25): A tribute to the first female Supreme Court Justice and a reminder of the importance of civic engagement.
These moments are opportunities for students to connect with the past, understand the present, and imagine a better future.
Peoria Unified invites the entire community to be part of this journey. Whether it’s attending a Veterans Day ceremony or joining the district’s online group to stay informed, there’s a place for everyone in this shared mission of civic growth.
Our greatest success as a school district is all that our students accomplish as alumni. Our community’s future doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, frontline workers and servicemen and women are currently in Peoria Unified’s classrooms receiving a high-quality education prioritizing the values most important to our families. While our direct impact ends as they cross the graduation stage and receive their diploma, our hope is that they carry the lessons learned within our classrooms with them into college, career and beyond.