The Nebraska Civic Leadership Program (NCLP) is a one-of-a-kind experiential education opportunity for high school students.
Through NCLP programming, students listen, learn, and engage in each layer of the United States government system via enriching academic and civic experiences. Whether they're standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol or engaging federal, state, or local policymakers in discussion about the future of our state – the NCLP’s programming inspires students to engage in a life of civic leadership and community engagement.
Each year, a group of high-achieving Omaha Public Schools high school students are chosen to participate in the NCLP with all expenses paid by the program. From January through June, they participate in five different learning experiences:
- State Government Day: Teachers and students travel to the Unicameral to participate in panel discussions and private meetings with reporters, lobbyists, and state senators in addition to attending the Unicameral session. After lunch teachers and students meet privately with executive branch officials and a justice from the Nebraska Supreme Court.
- City Government Day: Teachers and students participate in workshops and panel discussions with city government employees on the UNO campus. After lunch they travel by bus to City Hall where they attend the City Council session and meet privately with members of City Council and then with officials from the Mayor's office.
- White House Decision Center/Harry Truman Museum Day: Teachers and students travel to the Harry Truman Museum and Library in Independence, Missouri, to tour the museum and participate in an experiential learning exercise that simulates presidential decision-making called the White House Decision Center.
- Civic Participation Summer Institute: Teachers and students participate in two days of classroom instruction from UNO professors and panel discussions on community engagement and community service in local, state, and national government on the Scott Campus of UNO. Students stay overnight in the dormitories, which provides an experience for them similar to college.
- Washington, D.C. Experience: Teachers and students fly to Washington, D.C. for three days where they tour national monuments, the Smithsonian Museums, the U.S. Capitol, Mount Vernon, and Arlington National Cemetery. They also participate in panel discussions with policymakers with connections to the Omaha community, a private meeting with either a state Representative or Senator, and they attend a cultural event at the Kennedy Center.
PROGRAM HISTORY:
The NCLP was founded in 2009 by Dr. Loree Bykerk and Dr. Paul Landow in the Department of Political Science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and in partnership with Omaha Public Schools.
High school government teachers participate alongside their students to enhance their professional development and teaching of civics. One U.S. government teacher from each OPS high school is identified to participate in the program and each teacher chooses three high school juniors that will be in their senior-level government class the following year.
