Now is the time to get ready for "I Signed the Constitution 2002", a program of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) and the National Constitution Center (NCC) that celebrates our nation's rule of law around the September 17th Constitution Ratification date. If your school wants a positive way to reinforce our national values as we pass the first anniversary of 9-11, this program is a great way to do it! Check out the PBA's site at www.pabar.org/constitutionwebsite.shtml. Your school can get registration information and more at that site.

Attached is the letter that the PBA soon will be sending to schools. Any school can register with the NCC for materials, but the PBA is sending its guidebooks out to the first 250 schools. Schools will need to pay the NCC for the shipping costs of materials this year, but that is a small price to pay for the wonderful program that those materials support.

May 15, 2002

Dear Pennsylvania Educator:

We are writing today with exciting news about next fall’s "I Signed the Constitution" Program. Plans for the program are well underway and the National Constitution Center (NCC) would like your school to take part in the festivities.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association, in conjunction with the NCC, coordinates a statewide effort to provide children from across the commonwealth with the opportunity to participate in the "I Signed the Constitution" program. This program allows students to gain a greater understanding of their rights and responsibilities by placing their signatures next to the signatures of our Founders on a mock U.S. Constitution. It’s a unique program that is informative, engaging and, most importantly, a whole lot of fun! We encourage you to consider signing up for next fall’s program.

For our fourth year, we will kick-off the celebration with a formal signing program on Tuesday, September 17, that will be broadcast by the Pennsylvania Cable Network. But ... the opportunity to participate in the program will not conclude at the end of Constitution Week - schools can hold signing programs across the state and participate in the elementary school poster contest until Bill of Rights Week in December. This will give everyone an opportunity to have signing programs throughout the fall. Once you register for the program with the NCC, you will receive lesson plans and materials from the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the NCC in August.

The deadline for program registration was June 1 - but even with the deadline having passed, contact the NCC to see if they will still let you sign up. The materials are free. Your school only is responsible for a nominal shipping fee. So, all you need to do is place your order with the NCC.

We hope that you will join us in celebrating the United States Constitution. Please feel free to contact PBA Communications Coordinator Jennifer Branstetter with any questions at (800) 932-0311, ext. 2216, or by e-mail at jennifer.branstetter@pabar.org. You also can visit the PBA Web site [www.pabar.org/educationprograms.shtml] throughout the summer for program updates. We look forward to working with you.

Best Regards,