Join us for the Kansas State Finals of the National Civics Bee!

ABOUT THE BEE

The Kansas Leadership Center is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and several chambers of commerce across Kansas to host our third statewide civics competition, following the success of the inaugural event and the subsequent event. The National Civics Bee encourages young Americans in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. The competition, modeled on traditional spelling and geography bees, gives students the chance to win recognition and earn cash prizes by sharing ideas for improving their communities and showing their enthusiasm for civics. The winner of the 2026 Kansas State Finals will be invited to Washington, DC to compete in the National Civics Bee National Championship in the fall of 2026.

WHY CIVICS? 

We are hosting the National Civics Bee Kansas State Finals because we believe that informed and active citizens make for a strong country, a strong economy, and a strong workforce and that our continued prosperity depends on the strength of all three. Through the Bee, we are promoting greater civic knowledge throughout Kansas and celebrating our civic pride.

Ready to test your civics knowledge? Take this brief quiz to see how well you stack up. And don’t worry, whether you ace them or need some refreshers, we are glad you’re interested in civics and civic engagement. We need more people like you. Ready? Let’s go!

KEY 2026 DATES

• Sept. 8, 2025: Student Application Portal opens
• Nov. 11, 2025: 2025 National Championship in Washington, D.C. (Watch 2025 Kansas State Champion Tanya Ramesh represent the sunflower state!)
• Feb. 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST): Application submission deadline (and postmark deadline)
• March 20 – May 23, 2026: Regional Bees take place
• Thursday, June 25, 2026: Kansas State Finals of the National Civics Bee take place
• Fall 2026: National Championship takes place in Washington D.C. (date TBD)

LOCAL COMPETITIONS

• Hutchinson-Reno County Chamber of Commerce (Hutchinson, KS) – date TBD
• Overland Park Chamber Foundation (Overland Park, KS) – mid-April 2026
• Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce (Pittsburg, KS) – Monday, March 30, 2026
• Salina Area Chamber of Commerce (Salina, KS) – Saturday, April 11, 2026
• Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce (Wichita, KS) – date TBD
• Not a Kansas resident? Learn more about the National Civics Bee and find a local competition in your state!

HOW TO ENTER 

Any 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student residing in the U.S. with an idea about using civics to improve their community may submit their essay to participate in one local competition in their state or nearby. Students respond to a 3-question essay prompt proposing ideas to improve their communities.

The application portal opens here on September 8, 2025. Start by creating an account. Deadline for submission is February 3rd, 2026. Due to the widespread impact of the winter storms, including school closures, postal service delays, and power and internet outages, we are implementing a one-time, nationwide extension of the 2026 essay submission deadline. The new deadline is Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., Hawaii Standard Time.

Finalists will be notified by March 8, 2026.