What States Are Doing
The VERMONT Secretary of State, Deborah Markowitz, has released The Impact of Civics Education on the Attitudes, Behaviors and Disposition of Youth, which details results from surveying high school seniors in Vermont. Findings show more students are predisposed to active citizenship than their predecessors.
http://www.sec.state.vt.us/Mock_Election_Report.pdf
Back to top.Good Reads
The 2009 Summer Journal/Newsletter from the UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools has an informative and helpful article on the importance of youth voice. "YOUTH PARTICIPATION: Making It Real" "explores what is involved in ensuring meaningful participation by young people in policy and planning."
http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/news.htm
Back to top.New Center Publications
A new publication from the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) looks at service-learning and its effect as a pedagogy on Hispanic students. SERVICE-LEARNING AND HISPANIC STUDENTS: What Works in the Field takes data from case studies of nine schools with strong service-learning programs and large Hispanic student populations, and identifies best practices and policies across all sites. The report details key recommendations and challenges.
http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/81/01/8101.pdf
Back to top.NCLC News
The National Center for Learning and Citizenship is pleased to announce that it is a recipient of a $926,640 THREE-YEAR GRANT from the Corporation for National and Community Service's Learn and Serve America School-Based Competitive Grants. The goal of Learn and Serve America is to engage students, educators, and community residents of all ages and backgrounds in service and service-learning to enhance education, civic participation and communities. NCLC will focus on expanding its Schools of Success Network to middle school service-learning programs throughout the country.
The Education Commission of the States (ECS) and the National Center for Learning and Citizenship are pleased to announce the recipients of the SERVICE-LEARNING SCHOOLS OF SUCCESS AWARD. Ten schools were selected based on their support of five elements critical to the successful, school-based integration of service-learning that are shown to lead to greater student achievement and success: vision and leadership, curriculum and assessment, professional development, community-school partnerships and continuous improvement.
http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/81/02/8102.pdf
Back to top.Meetings & Events
The National Center for Learning and Citizenship hosted MEETINGS IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. The NCLC Executive Board and the 100 District Leaders for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning, as well as a concurrent session at the ECS National Forum on Education Policy, took place July 8-10, 2009.
/clearinghouse/81/32/8132.doc
Back to top.Names in the News
Elementary school students in Albion, New York, have written a book as part of the "In Our Global Village" project. Many of the stories are about service-learning projects in the Albion School District. Albion's Superintendent is DR. ADA GRABOWSKI, a member of NCLC's 100 District Leaders for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning. To learn more about the project, visit:
http://www.inourvillage.org
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.
/clearinghouse/81/33/8133.doc
Back to top.Other Useful Web sites
OUR COURTS is a free, interactive, Web-based program designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. Our Courts is the vision of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is concerned that students are not getting the information and tools they need for civic participation, and that civics teachers need better materials and support. On this site, you will find information and useful teaching resources for an engaging civics curriculum.
http://www.ourcourts.org
You knew it was coming: Learn and Serve America announces a service-learning game on Facebook. LEGISLATIVE AIDE is a computer-based game that integrates service learning and computer gaming with Youth Map's social networking capabilities. It is designed to help students explore their community and its resources.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/Learn-and-Serve-America/33762736412
Back to top.International Focus
The 9th International Research Conference on SERVICE-LEARNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT will be held October 9-12, 2009 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This year's theme is "Research for What? Making Inquiry Matter."
http://www.researchslce.org/
From the United Kingdom comes PEACE ONE DAY EDUCATION, which aims to advance active learning in the areas of conflict resolution, global citizenship, human rights and the link between sustainability and peace, using Peace Day 21st September as a focus. Their goal is to provide resource materials to every school in the world, "inspiring a generation to become the driving force behind the vision of a united and sustainable world." This online resource contains lesson plans and classroom resources, tailored to United States classrooms, which can be accessed at no charge. To learn more, visit their Web site.
http://education.peaceoneday.org
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