Hello All,

I just want to bring this amazing program to your attention. I first heard about CT Kid Governor through this listserv and I cannot speak highly enough about it. What better year to learn about civic engagement, the branches of government, and the importance of voting than a Presidential election year? Primary voting for CTKG takes place in October and statewide voting around election day so if you are interested, sign up soon! Please reach out if you have any questions. Since introducing this program to my district in 2018, we have had four cabinet members.

Christina O'Neill

LMES Library/Media Specialist

YOUR 5TH GRADERS CAN VOTE FOR CONNECTICUT’S NEXT KID GOVERNOR!

Have you heard that Connecticut has a Kid Governor? It’s true!

Kid Governor® is The Connecticut Democracy Center's nonpartisan and FREE civic education program for 5th graders. Each year, 10,000 student voters learn about state government, elections, and civic participation through the election of our state's Kid Governor. And it's all done right from the comfort of their classrooms!

Give your 5th-grade students a voice and a vote in this fall's Statewide Election for Connecticut’s 2026 Kid Governor. Read on to learn what students gain from participating in Kid Governor® and how to register your class or school!

ENGAGING CIVICS EDUCATION

The FREE Kid Governor® program immerses students in learning about state government, leadership, elections and voting, and civic participation. Our inquiry-driven lessons and resources help classroom educators guide their 5th graders through a real-life election for our state’s Kid Governor!

Kid Governor® gives students the chance to learn important life skills like research, critical thinking, persuasion, public speaking, and more. Schools can even nominate a student to run for Kid Governor! (optional)

Explore our resources

INCREASED AGENCY

Kid Governor® participants discover their ability to participate in civic life. Students who run for Kid Governor identify important community issues they are passionate about and develop three-point platforms that inspire 5th graders to make a difference.

Students who vote in the Statewide Election and support their elected Kid Governor and Cabinet learn the value of their voices and ways to take an active role in shaping their own communities.

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES

The Kid Governor® Statewide Election is a real election, and participating schools can nominate one 5th grader to run for Kid Governor! (optional)

After schools run primaries, seven final candidates advance to the Statewide Election. As adults head to the polls in November, students cast a ballot for the candidate and platform they support.

The student with the most votes becomes Kid Governor and spends a one-year term implementing their campaign platform. The six runners-up serve as the Kid Governor’s Cabinet, working with the Kid Governor and advancing their own platforms.

Learn more

YEAR-ROUND CIVIC LEARNING

The Statewide Election for Kid Governor is in November, but civic learning never stops! Once elected, the Kid Governor and Cabinet spend their one-year terms working with students and other community members to make progress on their platforms. These student leaders call on their 5th-grade constituents to help them by raising awareness of community issues, participating in poster contests, tuning into educational events, writing to elected officials, and more!

Meet our student leaders

GIVE YOUR STUDENTS A VOICE

IN NOVEMBER’S ELECTION!

Bring Connecticut’s Kid Governor® to your school or district!

Please share this email with your 5th-grade colleagues and encourage them to explore our collection of FREE resources, including:

2025-26 Annual Startup Guide
Toolkits of lesson plans
Digital resources: civics videos from state officials, Bitmoji classrooms, Google Slides and Forms activities, Spanish translations of student worksheets, ELA activities, and more!

CLICK HERE to explore our resources.

Dr. Miguel A. Cardona, former U.S. Secretary of Education and former Connecticut Commissioner of Education

“My daughter was a finalist in her school for Kid Governor and I remember the passion she came home with, talking about her project. It brought out a sense of pride and agency in my daughter that I hadn’t seen before.”