As part of Arkansas Celebrates America250 (ACA250), the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is pleased to share the Presidential 1776 Award, a nationwide civics competition for Arkansas high school students that recognizes exceptional knowledge of America’s founding principles. This opportunity supports Arkansas’s commitment to strengthening civic learning, elevating student voice, and promoting meaningful engagement with America’s Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary).

Overview

The Presidential 1776 Award is a national scholarship competition launched by the U.S. Department of Education and independently developed and judged by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. The competition evaluates students’ understanding of civics, constitutional principles, and founding-era history.

Three national winners will receive scholarships totaling $250,000, with the national finals held in Washington, D.C., in June 2026.

Connect | Celebrate | Contribute (#ACA250)

Connect your learning to the ideas and principles that shaped the founding of the United States.

Explore civics, the Constitution, and the responsibilities of citizenship through this national challenge.

Celebrate your knowledge and effort by competing on a national stage during America’s 250th anniversary.

Represent Arkansas with pride as you challenge yourself and showcase what you know.

Contribute your voice as an informed, engaged citizen ready to lead and serve.

Help carry America’s story, and Arkansas’s role in it, into the next 250 years.

Who Can Participate

• High school students (Grades 9–12)

• Participation may occur through U.S. history, civics, government, or humanities courses

• No cost to participate

Competition Timeline & Structure

Round One – State Qualification

• February 22–28, 2026

• Online, timed, electronically proctored exam

• 90 minutes total (three 30-minute sections of increasing difficulty)

• Questions cover civics and American founding history

• Scoring is weighted by accuracy and question difficulty

• Four Arkansas students advance to the next round

Round Two – Regional Semifinals

• May 2026

• State finalists advance to one of five regional competitions

• Verbal, short-answer format

• Top four students per region advance

Round Three – National Final

• Late June 2026 | Washington, D.C.

• Verbal, short-answer competition

• Students earn points for correct responses

• Top three students receive scholarships totaling $250,000

About the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation is a federally established entity created by Congress in 1986 following the Bicentennial. Its mission is to strengthen teaching and learning about the U.S. Constitution in secondary schools nationwide.

Next Steps for Schools

Schools are encouraged to:

• Share information about the Presidential 1776 Award with students in grades 9–12, teachers, counselors, and families.
• Encourage interested students to register during the official registration window at https://www.presidential1776award.org
• Reinforce relevant content through existing civics, U.S. history, and government coursework.
• Clarify expectations for independent, closed-book participation in the online assessment.
• Support communication and required permissions for students who advance to later rounds.
• Leverage Arkansas Celebrates America250 (#ACA250) connections to build civic pride, elevate student voice, and promote meaningful engagement with the nation’s semiquincentennial. 

Printable details regarding this opportunity can be found here. Access to this opportunity can also be found on the ACA250 website: www.america250.ade.arkansas.gov.

Thank you for your continued leadership in supporting civic learning and helping Arkansas students connect their education to our shared American story.

#ACA250 | Arkansas Celebrates America250