National Civics Bee 2026 - application information
903 S. Edgemoor
Wichita, KS 67218
United States
Competition open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders in Sedgwick County.
Applications due February 17th!
The Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and USD 259 - Wichita Public Schools are co-sponsoring the Wichita Regional of the National Civics Bee® on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Twenty area middle school students, who qualified through an essay competition, will put their knowledge of government, civics, and the Constitution to the test in a competition modeled after traditional spelling bees. The top three placers will win cash prizes and qualify for the Kansas State Finals of the National Civics Bee®. This event is a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, also hosting the National Civics Bee® National Championship in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2026. Each state will send its top qualifier to the National Bee.
Applications are open now. All area 6th, 7th and 8th graders are invited to follow the application instructions below.
Link to the Essay Guide & Application
| 1) Answer these Essay Prompts and submit your work digitally by February 17, 2026 (extended from February 3 deadline) | |
| v | Identify a specific problem, challenge, or opportunity in your community. What can you do to contribute to its improvement? |
| v | What individuals or organizations would you work with to accomplish your solution? Examples include elected officials, business leaders, and nonprofits. |
| v | How does your solution include Founding Principles and Civic Virtues? |
| 2) Judges will score all essays, and the Top 20 entries from Sedgwick County will be invited to our Live Bee on April 21 ,2026. | |
| 3) The Live Bee will include two rounds of multiple-choice quiz questions, with the top 5 finalists proposing their essay idea to live judges. | |
| 4) Cash prizes of $500, $250, and $125 will be awarded to the Top 3 finishers, who also move on to the State Bee. | |
THANK YOU TO THE PRESENTING SPONSOR
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
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