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 William Hughes, superintendent of the Greendale School District in Wisconsin, describes his district's path toward EMBRACING SERVICE-LEARNING and CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION.
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What States Are Doing Senate Resolution 170, to be considered by the PENNSYLVANIA state senate, urges the U.S. Congress to consider amending the U.S. Constitution to allow 17-year-olds to vote in all elections. The resolution asserts that "permitting 17-year-olds to vote will encourage public schools to more vigorously pursue civics lessons as part of a well-defined curriculum that helps develop more socially active and informed citizens." http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/SR0170P1263.HTM
Good Reads Cathryn Berger Kaye's new book, "The COMPLETE GUIDE TO SERVICE LEARNING: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, and Social Action," brings together a wealth of ideas, resources and curricular connections around service-learning and civic responsibility.
New Center Publications The National Center for Learning and Citizenship released a series of NEW RESOURCES. They include: a 50-state interactive database of state policies supporting citizenship education, a policy brief that outlines the importance of citizenship education and reviews existing state policies, and a 50-state compilation ("StateNote") of these policies. The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement and the Carnegie Corporation of New York supported the development of these new resources.
http://www.ecs.org/nclc
NCLC News The NCLC Executive Board met in Denver on December 12th and was pleased to welcome three NEW BOARD MEMBERS: Glenys Hill, superintendent, Kelso School District, Washington; Flora Lazar, public affairs director, Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago; and Sue Windels, Colorado state senator.
On October 15th, Nestucca Valley Superintendent and NCLC board member Roger Rada led an ONLINE CHAT with members of the National Service-Learning Partnership, covering a range of topics relating to service-learning in districts and schools. (Free registration required.) http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/service_learning/rada_chat.cfm
Meetings & Events The 2004 EDUCATION LEADERSHIP COLLOQUIUM (ELC)on the Civic Mission of American Schools will be held July 12-13, 2004, in Orlando, Florida, immediately preceding the ECS National Forum on Education Policy. Mark your calendar now!
NCLC will host its fourth professional judgment group January 15-16 to build upon the work of the May 2003 Thinkers Meeting on CIVIC COMPETENCIES and develop a series of policy options for states to consider. For more information, contact Susan Vermeer at svermeer@ecs.org.
The North Carolina Civic Education Consortium co-hosted a statewide Summit on the CIVIC MISSION OF SCHOOLS with a number of state agencies. Nearly 100 legislators, local and state education policymakers, superintendents, principals, students, parents, teachers and others participated, including ECS Vice President Charles Coble and North Carolina State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee.
Other Useful Web sites The NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR CIVIC EDUCATION's Web site provides information and links to resources on civic education and youth civic engagement.
http://www.cived.net/
The COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING recently launched its redesigned Web site. The site contains news and information on the latest developments in the field of social and emotional learning. http://www.casel.org/home/index.php
