Reagan Library to Host California Civics Finals, 20 Middle Schoolers Compete for National Title
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Twenty middle school students will gather at the Reagan Library on June 27 to compete in the California State Finals of the National Civics Bee. The winner earns a spot at the national championship in Washington, D.C. this fall.
The event begins at 9:45 a.m. at 40 Presidential Drive and is free and open to the public. General admission to the museum is not included.
The competition follows the format of a spelling bee. Students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade answer questions about civic principles and American history in multiple live rounds. The Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is hosting the state-level competition as part of a nationwide effort led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to strengthen civic education among young Americans.
The format tests more than memorization. Students must understand how government works, why certain principles matter, and how history shapes the present. The rounds move quickly. One wrong answer can end a run.
California is one of several states holding finals this spring. Each state sends its winner to the national championship. The national event takes place in Washington, D.C., where students compete against peers from across the country.
The Reagan Library has long supported civic education. The foundation runs programs aimed at teaching young people about democracy, leadership and the responsibilities of citizenship. Hosting the state finals puts that mission in front of a live audience.
The 20 students competing on June 27 have already advanced through earlier rounds. They come from schools across California. Each has demonstrated a strong grasp of civics and a willingness to study material that many adults have forgotten.
The event offers a rare chance to watch middle schoolers under pressure. The questions are not easy. The stakes are real. The students know what they are competing for.
Organizers encourage community members to attend. Watching the competition can be a test of your own civic knowledge. The questions often stump adults. Seeing students answer them confidently is a reminder of what strong education can produce.
The Reagan Foundation is also offering free copies of the Civility Handbook, a nonpartisan guide published by the Ronald Reagan Center on Civility and Democracy. The pocketbook is designed to help people engage in civic conversations with respect and clarity. Copies are available at the event and online.
Civics education has lost ground in many schools over the past two decades. Standardized tests rarely measure it. Elective courses crowd it out. Many students graduate without understanding how laws are made, what the Constitution protects, or how local government functions.
The National Civics Bee pushes back against that trend. By creating a competitive structure around civic knowledge, it gives students a reason to study it and a stage to show what they know.
The California finals will likely draw parents, teachers and community members who want to support the students. It will also draw people curious to see whether they can keep up. The event is interactive. Attendees are encouraged to test themselves against the questions.
The Reagan Library sits on a hill overlooking Simi Valley. It has hosted presidential debates, policy forums, and educational programs. On June 27, it will host a room full of middle schoolers who know more about the structure of American government than most voters.
The winner will represent California in Washington, D.C. this fall. The runner-up will go home with experience and a reason to keep studying. The other 18 will leave knowing they earned a spot in a state final.
The event is free, but space is limited. Those planning to attend can find more information at reaganfoundation.org/events/2026-national-civics-bee-california-state-finals.
Doors open before the first round begins. The competition runs until a winner is declared. What happens between those two moments depends on how well 20 students have prepared and how clearly they can think under pressure.
