The U.S. Department of Education has introduced the Presidential 1776 Award, a national competition aimed at high school students to test and reward their knowledge of American civics and founding principles. The contest is part of broader efforts to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
Participants will go through three rounds that include multiple-choice and verbal examinations. The questions for these exams are independently created by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation, which will also serve as judges. The top three students in the nation will receive scholarships totaling $250,000, with finals scheduled for June 2026 in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated, “What better way to get our students excited about learning more of our nation’s deep and rich history than a friendly competition meant to challenge high schoolers to show off their knowledge of our great nation’s founding ideals? As we prepare to celebrate America's 250th birthday, this competition is an opportunity for young people to push themselves, learn our history, and take pride in the principles that unite us. I am grateful to the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation and all of the educators, partners, and families who are helping to make this effort possible. Game on!"
Julie E. Adams, Executive Secretary and CEO of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation said, “The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation is honored to serve independently as both the writers of the questions and the judges for the Presidential 1776 Award. Our James Madison Fellows are among the best teacher-scholars on the U.S. Constitution and the American Founding and they will write challenging but fair questions for the intrepid students who take part in the award. The knowledge of American civics and history is vital to the survival of the Republic. We agree with our namesake James Madison who wrote in 1822, 'Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.'”
Kristin Delwo, Executive Vice President at EBSCO added: “There’s something truly inspiring about young people today rising to the occasion with the same grit and curiosity that fueled the founding of our great nation so long ago. The EBSCOed team is thrilled to deliver the secure digital experiences that comprise the Presidential 1776 Award program and recognize achievements of all competitors with validated Learning & Employment Records (LERs) that they can build upon for a lifetime at LER.me.”
The competition begins with an online exam called The Impossible Civics Test during February 22-28, 2026; four finalists from each state move forward based on performance across up to 4000 randomized questions graded by difficulty level. In May 2026 regional semifinals occur as short answer verbal competitions held nationwide; four winners per region advance further. The final round takes place in Washington D.C., where top scorers win scholarships up to $150,000 each.
The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation was established by Congress after America’s Bicentennial in 1986 with a focus on improving teaching about constitutional topics in secondary schools.
This award forms part of several initiatives from the Department celebrating America’s semiquincentennial anniversary—others include programs like History Rocks! Trail to Independence Tour organized alongside groups such as America First Policy Institute and Turning Point USA under an umbrella coalition supporting civic education nationwide.
