This article features Project 540, a national civic education program directly engaging high-schoolers in the democratic process. Project 540 is a dynamic and moving initiative that brings students full-circle to produce civic action plans based on what their school and community have to offer. The author emphasizes that civic participation based on student-led deliberative dialogue enhances students' civic skills and produces desired civic outcomes. Project 540's successful efforts to directly involve students in school governance have raised important questions about how to promote school-based civic education. While civic knowledge is important, efforts to improve civic education are certain to fail if they do not address student motivation and provide opportunities for participation.