Guest Column
Meet JOANN HENDERSON, new NCLC executive director, and read her reflection on the National Service-Learning Conference and how she sees her previous experience blending with future NCLC work.
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Back to top.What States Are Doing
OKLAHOMA State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett convened the inaugural State Superintendent's Student Advisory Council in February. Chosen from hundreds of applicants, the 50 students range from freshmen to seniors and represent geographic diversity and school size. The council members initially met with Superintendent Garrett to discuss the dropout problem and possible solutions.
http://www.sde.state.ok.us/Programs/SSSAC/default.html
The ALABAMA Department of Education is partnering with America's Promise Alliance and Gallup to conduct the first ever Gallup Student Poll. Students in 5th through 12th grade will be surveyed about their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors to identify key supports needed to stay engaged and succeed in school. Results will help communities develop more effective and relevant solutions to America's dropout crisis.
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Back to top.Good Reads
Districts and schools are having to do more with less these days. So it makes sense to utilize every means to build support for your programs. The Corporation for National and Community Service's A Guide to WORKING WITH THE MEDIA is full of helpful and practical advice. It covers developing a media plan, interviews, press releases, public service announcements and more.
http://www.nationalservice.org/about/media_kit/index.asp
A NEW CURRICULUM developed by America's Promise Alliance, $aving Our Futures: A Financial Responsibility Program for Young People, was developed to teach young people in middle and early high school about financial responsibility. As they engage with this material, students not only will practice financial responsibility and learn math skills, but also will understand economic and political systems, engage in problem solving and critical thinking, practice presentation and public speaking, and lead community events to engage their peers, families and friends.
http://www.americaspromise.org/financialresponsibility/
Back to top.New Center Publications
More and more schools and districts are realizing the importance of a positive school climate that encourages mutual respect and teamwork among all members of the school community. Now might be a good time to review NCLC's SCHOOL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION CLIMATE ASSESSMENT. This survey is designed to measure the quality of the climate at your school. Each section relates to a key component of a positive school climate.
http://www.ecs.org/qna
Back to top.NCLC News
NCLC's 100 DISTRICT LEADERS for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning is currently accepting applications for new members of the Network. This cadre of district superintendents and school board members from across the nation is selected based on leadership and commitment to integrate and sustain high-quality citizenship (or civic) education and service-learning in their districts, and to increase awareness of this important teaching and learning method with peers in their states and throughout the nation. To access application information, please click on the link below.
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Twelve members of the 100 District Leaders Network and NCLC staff met in Chicago on February 6 and 7 for a leadership retreat facilitated by Daniel Baron, senior fellow at the National School Reform Faculty. Participants reflected on their year as DLN members and RENEWED THEIR COMMITMENT to the DLN by developing a new mission statement and strategies.
Back to top.Meetings & Events
NCLC co-sponsored an ADMINISTRATORS ACADEMY at the National Service-Learning Conference in Nashville. "Out-of-the-Box Leadership Through Service-Learning" engaged district and school leaders in examining strategies to successfully integrate and sustain quality service-learning, and to align service-learning with district and school mission, education priorities and expected student outcomes. During his plenary remarks, Paul Houston talked about leadership as a 360º connection to all the relevant stakeholders. Building on the plenary session, participants broke into groups to consider the Four A's: Assumptions, Agreements, Arguments and Actions. Roundtable discussions offered participants a variety of topics, including dropout prevention, role of the community, youth leadership, workforce development and professional development. Among the presenters were Terry Pickeral, Cascade Educational Consultants and former NCLC Executive Director; Bill Hughes, Greendale (Wisconsin) School District Superintendent, member NCLC Executive Board and 100 District Leader Network; and Ada Grabowski, Albion (New York) Central School District Superintendent and 100 District Leader Network member.
The Democracy Imperative and the Deliberative Democracy Consortium are hosting "No Better Time: Promising Opportunities in DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY for Educators and Practitioners," July 8-11, 2009, in Durham, New Hampshire. The conference will focus on future directions for educators and practitioners in teaching, research and citizen-centered initiatives.
http://www.unh.edu/democracy/conference2009/
Back to top.Names in the News
The Special Olympics World Games, eight days of great youth development and empowerment, were held February 7–13 in Boise, Idaho. During the Games, over 140 youth from 12 countries were engaged in a Global Youth Activation Summit, which was facilitated by youth and focused on youth leadership and advocacy development. Special Olympics Chairman of the Board is TIM SHRIVER, NCLC executive board member. Read Terry Pickeral's postcard from the Special Olympics Games.
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Back to top.Updates from NACE
Citizenship Matters regularly features new information available on the NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR CIVIC EDUCATION'S (NACE) Web site. NACE comprises over 200 group and individual members committed to advancing civic knowledge and engagement.
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Back to top.Other Useful Web sites
The Civic Education Project (CEP), a leadership and citizenship program at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, is NOW HIRING exceptional staff for their Spring & Summer 2009 service-learning programs. Spend a week (or a month or two) this spring or summer helping young people discover how to make a difference in the world.
http://www.civiceducationproject.com/jobs
CONGRESS IN THE CLASSROOM, developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, is a workshop dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress. The program is designed for high school or middle school teachers who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science or social studies. Forty teachers will be selected to take part in the 2009 program. Deadline to apply is April 15, 2009.
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm
Youth Service America has furnished information on several opportunities for GRANTS AND AWARDS that close soon. Included are Dollars for Change Service-Learning Grants (open through April 30), Teens for Planet Earth Service Awards (open through April 15), Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (open through April 30) and Habitat for Humanity Service-Learning Partnership Grants (open through May 15).
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