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 OREGON CITY SERVICE-LEARNING ACADEMY (OCSLA) is a district-initiated charter high school that incorporates community service into its academic program. This is a school with high academic standards, and a curriculum and performance-based assessments that are aligned with Oregon Academic Content Standards. District superintendent Roger Rada explains that the school does "everything possible to give students a sense of power over their own learning." Read more about this innovative school in this month's Guest Column. /clearinghouse/77/93/7793.doc
Good Reads A report on the positive impacts of service-learning on DROPOUT PREVENTION was released at the recent National Service-Learning Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While acknowledging that service-learning is not the perfect answer to dropout prevention, Engaged for Success presents a strong case that "service-learning can play a major role in keeping students engaged in school and on track to graduate." /clearinghouse/77/95/7795.pdf
Florida Learn & Serve has released a new publication highlighting five long-standing middle and high school service-learning projects. 5 Case Portraits: EXEMPLARY SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAMS in Middle and High Schools in Florida, written by Dr. Tom Marcinkowski and Kyung-Im Noh, provides portraits based on case study methods, including visits and interviews at each site from the fall of 2007. The publication can be downloaded from the Florida Learn & Serve Web site. http://www.fsu.edu/~flserve/resources/caseportraits.html
According to a research brief from the West Virginia-based Education Alliance, an evolving body of research indicates a positive correlation between youths who feel SAFE, VALUED AND CONNECTED to caring adults and their feelings about life, emotional health and enjoyment in school. They are also less likely to take part in risk behaviors. Positive Youth Development: Policy Implications and Best Practices concludes that adopting positive youth development models has a beneficial impact on youths, as they will perform better in school and demonstrate academic gains and improved personal and social development. http://www.educationalliance.org/teaadmin/attachments/PYDResearch.pdf
New Center Publications The SCHOOL CLIMATE CHALLENGE Narrowing the Gap Between School Climate Research and School Climate Policy, Practice Guidelines and Teacher Education Policy. This paper targets school leaders regarding the gap between findings from school climate research and school climate policy and practice, including teacher education and community support and engagement. http://www.ecs.org/html/projectsPartners/nclc/docs/schoo-climate-challenge-web.pdf
NCLC News ECS and NCLC have relocated to another floor in our current building. Our phone and fax numbers remain the same. The NEW NCLC ADDRESS is:
National Center for Learning and Citizenship
Education Commission of the States
700 Broadway, Suite 810
Denver, CO 80203-3442
NCLC hosted a Thinkers Meeting on HISPANIC STUDENTS AND SERVICE-LEARNING in March. Education leaders, policymakers, practitioners and leaders of national organizations met to increase their understanding of the alignment of quality service-learning with Hispanic students' achievement and success in school and in life.
School board members and district administrators who are also members of the 100 DISTRICT LEADERS NETWORK for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning took time during their respective national conferences in February and March to discuss how to enhance and deepen the work of the Network.
Meetings & Events The 2008 EDUCATION LEADERSHIP COLLOQUIUM (ELC) meets in Austin, TX on June 30 and July 1. This year participants will focus on blending workforce and civic development. One of the unique characteristics of the ELC is the engagement of youth in facilitation and presentation. The ELC will bring together eight state teams and members of the 100 District Leaders Network for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning to deliberate and determine how to advance a civic agenda in American schools and colleges. http://www.ecs.org/ecsmain.asp?page=/html/ProjectsPartners/nclc/nclc_main.htm
NCLC hosted an ADMINISTRATORS ACADEMY at the National Service-Learning Conference in Minneapolis. The academy 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.
Names in the News ROGER WEISSBERG has recently been awarded the title of Distinguished Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The title, which recognizes his work in the field of social and emotional learning, is conferred by the Dean of the College and is intended to recognize tenured faculty who have demonstrated significant, distinguished, sustained scholarship within the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, or interdisciplinary fields represented within the College. Weissberg is also a member of the NCLC Executive Board.
Taunton Public Schools was presented with the Energy Stewardship Award by Energy Education, Inc. The schools achieved cost savings totaling $660,939 in 23 months after forming a strategic alliance with the national energy conservation company. Taunton's superintendent is DR. ARTHUR STELLAR, a member of the NCLC 100 District Leaders Network.
Hidalgo (TX) Independent School District has won Honorable Mention in the Magna Awards for districts with enrollment under 5,000. The district superintendent is EDUARDO CANCINO who attended the NCLC Service-Learning and Hispanic Students Thinkers Meeting in March. Hidalgo was honored for its Parental Career Pathway Academy. The Magna Awards is a national recognition program co-sponsored by American School Board Journal, the National School Boards Association, and Sodexo School Services that honors school board best practices and innovative programs that advance student learning. http://www.asbj.com/MainMenuCategory/Supplements/MagnaAwards/HonorableMentions.aspx
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. /clearinghouse/77/96/7796.doc
Other Useful Web sites The Center for Social and Emotional Learning's 11th Annual Summer Institute EDUCATING MINDS AND HEARTS: Promoting Safe and Civil Schools and Measuring and Improving School Climate (July 8-10, 2008) will focus on measuring and improving school climate as a research-based strategy to further social, emotional, ethical, civic and academic school improvement efforts. http://www.csee.net/climate/programsservices/si2008/summer_institute.aspx
Because of the importance of creating a school environment that PROMOTES MENTAL HEALTH and reduces problems, the Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA has just completed a new book-length resource. Mental Health in School & School Improvement: Current Status, Concerns, and New Directions is available online at no cost and with no restrictions on its use. http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/mhbook/mhbookintro.htm
Vermont Community Works announces its Summer Institute on Service-Learning, July 21-25, 2008, at Shelburne Farms, Vermont. Service-learning is the focus, with an emphasis on EDUCATING FOR SUSTAINABILITY. The Institute supports K-16 and community educators-beginner to advanced-at the classroom, program and site level. http://www.communityworksonline.org/
