Do you have information you would like to share in future
issues of Citizenship Matters? Send submissions to Ann Rautio at arautio@ecs.org.
The ECS National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) assists
state and district policymakers and educators developing policies
that support K-12 school-based service-learning opportunities. These
educational experiences help students acquire the skills, values,
knowledge and practice necessary to be effective citizens. The NCLC
identifies and analyzes policies and practices that support effective
citizenship education, creates and disseminates publications for
education stakeholders, and convenes meetings to develop a collective
voice for citizenship education and civic mission of schools. NCLC
also encourages policy support and system structures to integrate
service-learning into schools and communities. For more information,
visit www.ecs.org/nclc.
Welcome to CITIZENSHIP MATTERS, from the NATIONAL
CENTER FOR LEARNING AND CITIZENSHIP (NCLC) at the EDUCATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATES (ECS). This bimonthly newsletter focuses on ECS' work in
improving citizenship education in our nation's schools.
Guest Column Barbara Grohe's comments on CIVIL DISCOURSE were very timely after the previous midterm elections four years ago. They seem even more relevant now. Grohe may be the former superintendent of Kent School District in Washington, but there's nothing "retired" about her passion for and commitment to nurturing civic skills at home and in school. /clearinghouse/72/42/7242.doc
What States Are Doing The National Conference on Citizenship has released CIVIC HEALTH INDEXES for three more states: Arizona, North Carolina and Missouri. Check them out at the NCoC Web site. http://www.ncoc.net/CHI
Good Reads CHARACTER EDUCATION has grown in popularity among educators and parents alike, but the largest federal study to date of schoolwide programs has found that, for the most part, they don't produce any improvements in student behavior or academic performance. The results were despite the schools' significant increase in their use of character-development instruction and activities. See what you think after reading Efficacy of Schoolwide Programs to Promote Social and Character Development and Reduce Problem Behavior in Elementary School Children. http://ies.ed.gov/ncer/pubs/20112001/pdf/20112001.pdf
Do you know what SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS think and do? Find out in a new American Enterprise Institute study, High Schools, Civics, and Citizenship: What Social Studies Teachers Think and Do. Questions asked include: What do social studies teachers believe are the key rights, responsibilities and behaviors of American citizenship that high school students should internalize? Respondents included social studies teachers in public and private high schools as well as three focus groups. http://www.aei.org/docLib/High-Schools-Civics-Citizenship-Full-Report.pdf
Community Works Institute has released an expanded and revised edition of Connecting Service-Learning to the Curriculum: A Workbook for Teachers and Administrators. This SERVICE LEARNING WORKBOOK includes a comprehensive approach to using education for sustainability as an overarching goal and learning focus, with service-learning as the strategy. http://www.communityworksinstitute.org/cwpublications/index.html
New Center Publications A new publication in the ECS series The Progress of Education Reform (October 2010) highlights CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION. This issue examines research on what constitutes citizenship education, how citizenship education contributes to the acquisition of 21st century skills and civic learning opportunity, and achievement gaps. /clearinghouse/87/95/8795.pdf
NCLC News PAUL BAUMANN joined the NCLC staff in October. As a Project Leader, he'll work closely with the NCLC Schools of Success, as well as providing policy expertise. Paul earned his Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park, where his research focused on issues of teacher quality, teacher education and teacher compensation. Prior to attending UMD, he taught vocal music for 10 years at a private high school in suburban Maryland and in the District of Columbia Public Schools. He was elected to two terms on the Board of Directors of the Organization of American Kodály Educators, a national professional association of music educators, and served as its secretary from 2002 to 2007.
Three NCLC SCHOOLS OF SUCCESS are featured in the October issue of District Administration. In "Connecting Curriculum with Community," author Susan Gonsalves profiles service-learning projects at Montpelier High School, Raymond School District #14 and Fowler Unified School District. http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2565&p=2#0
Service-learning projects at JOHN SUTTER MIDDLE SCHOOL in Fowler, California are featured in The Highly Engaged Classroom, a new book for teachers summarizing research and filled with recommendations for classroom practice. Sutter is one of NCLC's Schools of Success.
Meetings & Events Members of NCLC's DISTRICT LEADERS NETWORK met in Detroit, Michigan, recently. Day one was held in concert with teachers from Youth Service America's (YSA) Youth Service Institute. On the second day, members met to discuss future DLN direction and recruitment initiatives. Read the summary: /clearinghouse/90/31/9031.pdf
Paul Baumann, NCLC staff, attended the inaugural meeting of ENGAGED EDUCATION NOW, November 11, 2010. He was one of about 50 participants who met to begin working on a plan to mobilize support for service-learning within federal and state education policy by developing a unified vision for active learning in K-12 schools and articulating policy strategies and a research agenda that will undergird a campaign to help realize this vision. For more information about the meeting, read Paul's report. /clearinghouse/90/32/9032.pdf
As a Conference Affiliate, NCLC encourages you to attend the 22nd Annual National SERVICE-LEARNING CONFERENCE, April 6-9, 2011, in Atlanta, Georgia. To register and learn how you can be involved in the largest gathering of youth and practitioners involved in service-learning, visit their Web site. www.nylc.org/conference
Congratulations to LEARN AND SERVE AMERICA! December 6-10, 2010, marks the 20th anniversary of Learn and Serve America, the only federally funded program dedicated to service-learning that engages more than one million youth in service-learning each year.
Names in the News The Center for Social and Emotional Education has evolved into the NATIONAL SCHOOL CLIMATE CENTER. The name change is the result of "a growing commitment to the importance of school climate as an essential element to building truly safe, supportive, engaging and successful schools." http://www.schoolclimate.org/
After one of the shortest retirements on record, STEPHEN HEFNER has accepted a position as interim superintendent in Lexington/Richland School District 5, effective January 1, 2011. Now the Lexington/Richland school district will reap the benefits of having a great superintendent who's passionate about service-learning and civic engagement, areas that the district fully supports. Hefner is also the NCLC chair and a DLN member.
Other Useful Web sites A new interactive curriculum has been released by Special Olympics. GET INTO IT is "designed to advance students' civic knowledge and skill development, promote acceptance and understanding of people's differences and motivate them to become advocates for and together with all people." Resources are available free of charge online at their Web site. https://getintoit.specialolympics.org/
The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) provides another module in their interactive tool for teacher PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. The Lift series is designed around the eight K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. Lift: Raising the Bar for Service-Learning Practice focuses on the "youth voice" standard. http://www.nylc.org/pages-newsevents-news-New_Interactive_Learning_Module_Now_Available?oid=9526
