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So what is democratic education, anyway?

IDEA defines democratic education as real-life learning rooted in community and meaningful to each individual. We believe that in a democracy based on participation of each individual, education should also be democratic. If you are interested in working toward this goal, IDEA is interested in working with you.

Democratic education is learning that matters. It matters to young people, because it is driven by their own curiosity and goals. It matters to the community, and the country as a whole, because young people gain the motivation and tools to meet pressing societal needs, including prejudice and violence, ecological devastation, and socioeconomic inequities.

Democratic education can take many different forms, including the following:

• Schools, those that label themselves “democratic” as well as those that embody these values without using that term


• Individual teachers, who carve out spaces for democratic education in their classrooms and schools


• Youth-led groups, including groups formed within schools and in communities


• Non-profit organizations that support youth voice through school-based, out-of-school, and summer programs


• Colleges in which young adults can direct their own learning and practice shared decision-making


• Homeschooling and unschooling, personalized education directed by a young person and his or her family


• Youth voice in policymaking, especially in education policy


• Education cities in which constituents transform the community into a learning space and increase the standard of living

For a more in-depth explanation, read Dana Bennis' feature on What Is Democratic Education?"

Actually, it's already happening, not just in wealthy schools, but in some of the most under-resourced neighborhoods and public schools in the country. IDEA showcases some of the most effective examples of democratic education.

Know another example of democratic education? Email it to us.