Retired Justice’s Online Game Teaches Civics

When are my property taxes due? How do I find out about childhood vaccination programs? Who is responsible for protecting the water supply? Where do citizens go to get answers to these questions? Nonprofit civic education group iCivics, led by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, partnered with the National Association of Counties (NACo) to develop a free, online game called Counties Work to help increase knowledge of the functions of county government. Targeted toward junior high and high school age students, Counties Work was first launched in summer 2011. Creators claim that iCivics is the first online interactive game with a county government focus. Players answer citizen questions, accept or reject suggestions, make infrastructure decisions, consider tax rates, build capital projects and manage emergencies.