Play by the Rules:  Alabama Laws for Youth  is a 72- page student manual on Alabama law, which teaches Alabama seventh graders the laws to which our state holds them accountable.  Its  user-friendly, question-and-answer format includes a teacher’s manual containing lesson plans and interactive teaching strategies designed to increase knowledge and understanding of the law as well as a commitment to civic responsibility.  Taught as a two week unit of study, Play by the Rules has quickly become popular with both educators and students and uniquely fits the Seventh Grade Civics course objectives. Distributed to over 70,000 students and teachers and law-related professionals each year since 2001, it has proved to be the most comprehensive law-related program for seventh grade in the United States.  

Developed in collaboration with the Alabama Office of the Attorney General, the Alabama Department of Education, the Alabama Department of Youth Services, the Center-sponsored program is designed to provide all seventh grade students in the state each year the updated laws which they need to know to live safe and productive lives.   Each student takes his or her book home at the end of the course, increasing the likelihood of its use well beyond the classroom instruction. 

Play by the Rules has attracted national attention as a model for teaching local and state law. It has received an Outstanding Law Day Activity award from the American Bar Association. It has also received a national Civic Mind award, been featured at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Youth Violence, and received supportive letters from Attorney General John Ashcroft and President George W. Bush.

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