About Us
About the Founder
Roy Lincoln Karp is a tireless advocate for civic education that gives young people real opportunities for participating in school governance and the civic life of their community.
A product of the New York City public school system, Roy received his B.A. in American history from Columbia University in 1997 and his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in 2002. After law school, he eschewed a traditional career in law for one in the field of education. As director of Civic Ed Project, he has designed and implemented a wide variety of civic and law-related education programs and curricula.
Roy was one of two curriculum writers hired by the Boston Public Schools to design a new high school level civics course. He is currently working with the Education Development Center to design a four-year Law & Justice Pathway for law-themed high schools. In spring 2009, Roy was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to a Special Commission on Civic Engagement and Learning, created through an act of the state legislature.Roy first became interested in student rights issues while attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of the Arts in New York City. During his senior year, he started a student newspaper, The Free Spirit, which featured thoroughly researched essays about the Gulf War, censorship, student rights, drug policy, and other current issues. Before the first issue was even printed, however, the school administration threatened to suspend students for distributing the paper inside school. With the support of the Center for Constitutional Rights, Roy successfully challenged this policy as a violation of the First Amendment, an experience that taught him great importance of knowing your rights and standing up for them when threatened.