Academy For Civic Education And Democracy

The Academy for Civic Education and Democracy (ACED) convenes a new cohort in June 2026. ACED is RRI’s in-person 8-week summer program in Washington, DC. Classes take place at the Ronald Reagan Institute building and are accredited by George Washington University. Every week, they interact with influential figures from diverse sectors and put their skills, knowledge, and network into practice through internships. This unique opportunity in Washington, DC empowers students to begin their own leadership journey with confidence and tangible experiences.

How Higher Ed Can Ace Civics Education

Tentative Summer 2026 dates:
June 7-July 31

Application Deadlines:

• November 1 - Early

• December 1 - Priority

• January 15 - Final

$8,450 includes the 3 credit core course accredited by GWU, housing for the entire program, internship placement, various programmatic costs.

All students are eligible and encouraged to apply for scholarship as RRI provides an average scholarship of $3,500 to offset the cost of the program. Students apply for the scholarship during the ACED admission process.

The ACED admissions team is looking for students who are engaged on campus, interested in learning to work across differences, and have a desire to hone their leadership skills and expand their potential.

Minimum student qualifications include:

• Must be 18 to Apply

• Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree

• Minimum GPA: 3.0