Our Programs

Free programs that teach you to analyze public data and to speak up where important decisions are made.

Current Programs

Program 1

Data Analysis with Python

Already know basic Python? Learn to answer real questions with data using pandas and matplotlib, and finish with an evidence-based report of your own.

6 weeks · 60-minute weekly sessions · Runs free in Google Colab

See how it works →Sign up

Program 2

Advocacy Mentorship Program

Learn one-on-one from mentors how to speak up where important decisions are made: at city council meetings, school board meetings, the state legislature, and beyond.

1-on-1 mentoring · About 4 weeks + your presentation

See how it works →Sign up

Past Programs

CompletedCivics Fair 8-Week ProgramStudents learned coding and data basics in Python, then used them to analyze real public data and public documents.See what it covered ↓

Getting Started with Python

Set up your free DataCamp account and write your first lines of code.

→Free DataCamp subscription, no cost to you
→Python fundamentals: variables, types, loops, and functions
→Learn by doing with interactive, self-paced lessons

Working with Data

Learn to load, clean, and explore real datasets.

→Core data structures: lists, dictionaries, and DataFrames
→Load and clean messy datasets with pandas
→Filter, sort, and summarize data to answer questions

Visualizing Data

Turn numbers into charts that actually tell a story.

→Build charts with common Python plotting libraries
→Pick the right visualization for the question you're asking
→Spot trends, outliers, and patterns in the data

Analyzing Public Data

Apply your new skills to real public datasets that matter.

→Find and download public datasets (education, budgets, census)
→Ask a question and investigate it with evidence
→Draw and defend data-backed conclusions

Reading Public Documents

Make sense of the budgets, reports, and policies behind the data.

→Navigate public budgets, reports, and policy documents
→Pull out the numbers and claims that matter
→Cross-check what documents say against the underlying data

Build Your Project

Put it all together into an analysis you can share.

→Pick a public issue you care about
→Analyze the data and document what you find
→Present your analysis to peers, family, or community

CompletedK-12 Funding WorkshopUse AI tools and public data to understand how Washington funds its schools, then turn what you learn into civic action.See what it covered ↓

Funding Basics

Understand where the money for public schools actually comes from.

→State revenue: the majority of school funding in Washington
→Local levies: voter-approved property taxes that fund local schools
→Federal funding: Title I and school lunch, and why it matters most for low-income and rural districts

McCleary & the Prototypical Model

See how a landmark lawsuit still shapes how schools are funded today.

→The McCleary case (2007-2012): the state ruled to be underfunding education
→The Prototypical Funding Model: how the state estimates staff, materials, and resources
→Levy caps and HB 2049 (2025) - why now is the time to act

Explore the WA K-12 Funding Model

Use AI tools to break down how Washington funds its 295 school districts.

→Funding Tracker: explore the data across all 295 districts
→Funding Flow: how state, local, and federal money reaches the classroom
→Special cases & formulas: Special Education, MSOC, and Transportation

District Dive

Investigate your own district with real, public data.

→Open k12funding.org and select your district (e.g. Bellevue)
→Explore per-student spending, FRL rates, and funding statistics
→Find a gap or surprising stat and be ready to share it

Use Your Voice

Turn what you learned into a civic action you actually deliver.

→Draft a public comment for a school board meeting
→Draft testimony or a letter to your state legislators
→Structure it: intro, personal story, evidence, and a call to action

Keep Engaging

Find ongoing ways to stay involved beyond the workshop.

→Meet officials and superintendents, and write to your representatives
→Join a Youth Advisory Council or your school's debate club
→Start a project or organization around a cause you care about

Bring these programs to your school

Free. Open to all grades. Available for classrooms, clubs, and community organizations across Washington.

Request a Program