Citizens for the 21st Century: Revitalizing the Civic Mission of Schools

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2 Citizes for the 21st Cetury: Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools The Report of the NASBE Study Group o Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society September 18, 2006 Dear Educatio Colleagues: This NASBE report presets a matter for urget cosideratio by educators across the coutry. Havig spet the past year studyig the preset circumstaces ad future prospects for civic learig i public educatio, my colleagues ad I have cocluded that promotig civic egagemet i our schools ad amog our studets is fudametal to preservig our traditioal America values of self-govermet ad our leadership amog atios. The drive toward stadardized testig that has swept through educatio i recet years has focused almost exclusively o the subjects of math, sciece, ad readig. A uiteded cosequece of this movemet has bee to deemphasize istructio i equally importat cotet areas such as social studies, which helps to prepare studets for effective citizeship. This situatio ca o loger be tolerated. Oe historic missio of public educatio has bee to prepare studets to be iformed ad egaged citizes. We must reclaim that missio ad exted it to iclude participatig i a icreasigly iterdepedet global society. A promiet characteristic of effective citizeship is takig a iterest ad active role i the civic life of oe s local, atioal, ad global commuities. It is that persoal coectio to a idividual s commuity that creates, ourishes, ad reews the soul of civil society. That is why I believe this report s call to actio is a matter of utmost importace. We urge you to read it carefully ad act o the recommedatios that are most appropriate for your state. I doig so, you will joi us i our efforts to reivigorate citizeship educatio by esurig that our studets have the kowledge, skills, ad dispositio to egage effectively i their rapidly expadig worlds. The future of democracy as we kow it depeds o it. Very sicerely, Jim Cariga Chair, NASBE Study Group o Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society Chair, Maie State Board of Educatio

3 Study Group o Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society James Cariga, Chair James Buckheit Debra Casha Isis Castro Edgar Chase Edward Dalto Priscilla M. Hade Ethel Hall Greg W. Haws Al Hodge, Jr. Robi Marti Kare Middleto Dorothy Nola Deborah Owes Fik Suelle Reed Kathlee N. Straus Christopher Ward Patricia Willoughby Lida Zechma Bettye Perkis, Associate Member Sarah Brewer, Associate Member Michael Levie, Ex officio Member Ted McCoell, Ex officio Member Maie Pesylvaia New Jersey Virgiia Louisiaa Utah West Virgiia Alabama Utah Georgia District of Columbia Colorado Nevada Ohio Idiaa Michiga Illiois North Carolia Georgia New York South Carolia New York District of Columbia NASBE Staff Lori Meyer, Author Marsha McMulli NASBE would like to thak Caregie Corporatio of New York ad the Ceter for Civic Educatio for their support of costs associated with the Study Group meetigs. However, the recommedatios ad substace of this report reflect the collective thikig of the Study Group members ad do ot ecessarily represet the views of the supportig orgaizatios. Copyright 2006 Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio All rights reserved. ISBN Additioal copies of this report are available for $12.00 each plus 10% for shippig ad hadlig ($4.50 miimum) from NASBE at 277 South Washigto Street, Suite 100, Alexadria, VA All orders uder $50 must be prepaid. Call for more iformatio or order olie at Volume discouts available.

4 Cotets Preface Executive Summary 4 5 Part 1 Part 2 Civic Learig i Today s Classroom: Kowledge, Skills, ad Behavior The Role of Schools i Promotig Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior: Recommedatios for State Board Actio 9 14 Checklist for State Actio 23 Appedix Resources 27 Key Reports Orgaizatios Preseters to the Study Group Edotes 30

5 , 4 Studets for the 21st Cetury Preface The first of the duties that are at this time imposed upo those who direct our affairs is to educate democracy. Alexis de Tocqueville Decades of reform efforts have firmly etreched stadards-based accoutability i public schools, touchig the everyday lives of pricipals, teachers, ad studets across the coutry. The result: stadards-based reform has moved workforce preparatio ad postsecodary educatio to the forefrot of the missio of our atio s educatioal system. There is little doubt of the importace of preparig studets for their future careers both i their cotiuig educatio ad i the workforce. Our future as a atio, as a people, ad as global citizes, depeds o it. Yet, with schools asked to do more ad more each year to comply with these reform efforts, aother cetral elemet to their missio is at risk of beig lost: teachig youg people the roles ad resposibilities of citizeship i a democratic society. I Jauary of 2006, the NASBE Study Group o Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society set out to determie what role state boards of educatio ca ad should play i promotig civic learig. The result is a call to actio to all state board of educatio members across the coutry to esure that studets are ready to participate i today s global society, fully prepared to take o the rights ad resposibilities of citizeship i the 21st cetury. This report offers four broad recommedatios alog with actio steps for accomplishig the developmet of policies ad practices that stress the importace of civic learig. Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

6 , 5 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools Executive Summary Datig back to our foudig fathers, a cetral missio of public schools has bee to educate youg people to become iformed ad egaged citizes i a democracy. Yet, with schools asked to do more ad more each passig year to prepare studets for the workforce ad postsecodary educatio, that missio has take a back seat. We must ot oly rekidle our commitmet to that edurig missio, we must also prepare our youg people to be citizes i a icreasigly itercoected global stage. This report is a call to actio for state boards of educatio to esure that studets are prepared to participate i a global democracy prepared to take o the rights ad resposibilities of citizeship i the 21st cetury. Begiig i Jauary of 2006, the NASBE Study Group o Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society set out to determie what role state boards of educatio ca ad should play i promotig civic learig. What follows is a set of recommedatios for state boards of educatio across the coutry to cosider as they work to esure that civic egagemet ad ethics are a itegral part of K-12 educatio for all studets. Trasform the Culture of Schools Develop a missio statemet, a code of ethics, ad a pla for implemetatio. Workig together with studets, staff, parets, ad the exteded commuity, school leaders should develop ad implemet a comprehesive missio statemet that icludes civic learig ad egagemet, as well as a set of values for the etire school commuity to follow. Implemetatio makig the missio a reality i the daily life of the school must be part of the pla. While may schools may already have a missio statemet, revisitig the statemet will be a valuable exercise to esure that all key stakeholders have iput i outliig the civic goals of the educatio commuity at-large. Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

7 , 6 Studets for the 21st Cetury Provide studets with civic-mided role models. Adult role modelig ca be oe of the most powerful tools i promotig civic egagemet ad ethical behavior. Admiistrators, teachers, staff, parets, ad commuity members all have a role to play i settig a example for studets both o ad off the school grouds. As adults icorporate civic resposibility ito their work ad persoal lives, studets follow their example. Review policies ad procedures. School persoel should review policies ad procedures already i place to make sure they are aliged with the ew missio statemet ad code of ethics. This is a far-reachig effort that requires effective leadership ad a collaborative approach. Chagig the school climate is arguably the most difficult chage to accomplish, but it is the most importat. It should spa the differet school activities, ad esure that studets ad parets are give a role i decisio-makig ad the directio of every school s missio ad day-to-day activities. Reivigorate Curriculum & Istructio Icorporate civic learig ito stadards-based reform efforts. State leaders should icorporate civic learig ito stadards, pedagogy, assessmet, ad accoutability policies wheever possible. Learig should focus o commuity, atioal, ad global cocepts of civic learig. Ifuse istructio about govermet, history, law, ad democracy ito the curriculum, with a strog global perspective. School curricula should iclude courses focusig o govermet, history, law, ad democracy through a comprehesive social studies program begiig as studets eter elemetary school ad cotiuig util graduatio. I additio to addressig aspects of America democracy, the coursework should also provide a comparative global perspective, describig how democracies ad other govermets outside the Uited States fuctio. Discuss ad debate curret evets i the classroom. Icorporate discussios of curret local, atioal, ad iteratioal issues ad evets ito the classroom, especially those that are iterestig to studets. Also, ecourage studet participatio i simulatios of democratic processes ad procedures. Participatory learig sharpes skills of effective citizeship for the commuity, atioal, ad global areas. Icorporate techology ito civic learig activities. It has become abudatly clear that the lives of the curret geeratio of Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

8 studets are iextricably liked to techology. Studies highlight the beefits of techology to learig, ad how it ca icrease the quality ad quatity of materials available to studets i eve the most remote, rural schools i the world. Educators ad policymakers must esure that techology is available i the classroom ad other activities ad that it is beig used effectively ad ethically. Techology ca be a especially powerful tool for expadig global sesitivities., 7 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools Iclude ethical discussios ad lessos throughout the school day. While ethics has traditioally bee a compoet of civic learig, the members of the Study Group felt a particular eed to discuss the topic idepedetly i order to stress the eed for attetio i schools. It is critical that ethics, or values, be ifused throughout the K-12 curriculum, as well as extra-curricular activities. Icorporate Service-Learig ad Other Experietial Opportuities Work with commuity orgaizatios to offer experietial opportuities that are relevat to studets everyday lives ad to academics. School persoel ca work with govermet, regulatory bodies ad authorities, ad other commuity-based orgaizatios to create applied ad authetic service-learig opportuities for youth. Ecourage experietial learig through extra-curricular activities. The most evidet is through such activities as school govermet. I may local districts, ad eve states, studets are also beig offered the opportuity to have a voice by servig o policymakig boards ad committees. These activities offer studets a hads-o experiece i civics that is hard to replicate i the classroom. Prepare ad Trai Educators ad Leaders for Civic Teachig Alig pre- ad i-service requiremets for teachers ad leaders with the goals of civic learig. Schools of educatio should stregthe pre- ad i-service traiig of teachers ad leaders i civics. There should be a strog civics compoet as part of the traiig of all educators, regardless of their subject area or focus. I additio, teachers ad leaders should be traied to icorporate service-learig ad other experietial learig ito the curriculum ad other school-related activities. Icluded i this traiig should be a focus o commuity-based learig, which focuses o teachig strategies that eable studets to lear from the commuity, which might iclude the school, eighborhood, or the etire world through the Iteret. 1 Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

9 , 8 Studets for the 21st Cetury Part 1. Civic Learig i Today s Classroom: Kowledge, Skills, ad Behavior Datig back to our foudig fathers, a cetral missio of public schools has bee to educate youg people to become iformed ad egaged citizes i a democracy. Yet, atioal ad iteratioal assessmet data reveal a startlig picture of a dowward spiral i the civic-related kowledge ad skills of future geeratios i the Uited States. Public opiio polls mirror the assessmet data: I a recet survey o attitudes about civic educatio, the America public gave studets a C- for their civic awareess ad egagemet, while givig schools a grade of C. 2 Today s low levels of civic learig, whether measurig kowledge, skills, or behaviors, have bee well documeted i both atioal ad iteratioal studies. For example, results from the most recet Natioal Assessmet for Educatioal Progress (NAEP) exam i civics reveal a dim future for democracy i the Uited States oly 30 percet of 12th graders scored at proficiet or above. 4 Amog Hispaic studets the fastest growig subgroup of the populatio i the Uited States oly 11 percet scored at or above proficiet, compared to 33 percet of white studets. 5 Aother study of studets i grade 9 from coutries spaig the globe revealed that the greatest weakess amog studets i the Uited States was i cotet kowledge. 6 Both results are of cocer, as research has established that iformed citizes are better citizes. 7 Beyod the lackluster kowledge of civics ad democracy i the Uited States, America studets have eve less uderstadig of gover- Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

10 Defiig Civic Educatio A report from the Ceter for Iformatio ad Research o Civic Learig ad Egagemet (CIRCLE) ad the Caregie Corporatio of New York, The Civic Missio of Schools, outlied a visio for a more comprehesive approach to civic educatio i the Uited States. Icluded i the report were the goals of civic educatio desiged to help youg people acquire ad lear to use the skills, kowledge, ad attitudes that will prepare them to be competet ad resposible citizes throughout their lives. This ew visio for civic educatio was derived from a series of meetigs ivolvig leadig scholars ad practitioers from diverse political ad discipliary backgrouds. The group cocluded that competet ad resposible citizes, 9 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools are iformed ad thoughtful; have a grasp ad a appreciatio of history ad the fudametal processes of America democracy; have a uderstadig ad awareess of public ad commuity issues; ad have the ability to obtai iformatio, thik critically, ad eter ito dialogue amog others with differet perspectives. participate i their commuities through membership i or cotributios to orgaizatios workig to address a array of cultural, social, political, ad religious iterests ad beliefs. act politically by havig the skills, kowledge, ad commitmet eeded to accomplish public purposes, such as group problem solvig, public speakig, petitioig ad protestig, ad votig. have moral ad civic virtues such as cocer for the rights ad welfare of others, social resposibility, tolerace ad respect, ad belief i the capacity to make a differece. Caregie Corporatio of New York ad the Ceter for Iformatio ad Research o Civic Learig ad Egagemet (CIRCLE), The Civic Missio of Schools. 3 Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

11 , 10 Studets for the 21st Cetury mets elsewhere i the world. Just as we are comig to uderstad the ature of the global ecoomy i which we live, we must also uderstad the eormous differeces i how democracy plays out across the globe. I oe iteratioal study of 14-year-olds, oly 52 percet of U.S. studets i grade 9 reported havig discussios with teachers about iteratioal politics, either sometimes or ofte. 8 Further, America youth lack the most basic uderstadig of the geography ad culture of other coutries. For example, the Natioal Geographic Society s 2006 study of geographic literacy foud that six i te youg adults could ot fid Iraq o a map a startlig figure give the U.S. military s presece there sice 2003, as well as the much publicized efforts at promotig democracy. 9 At the same time, oly 53 percet of participats were able to correctly idetify Idia, the world s largest democracy, ad 48 percet icorrectly said that Muslims were the majority populatio. 10 Ethics ad resposibility were oce a itegral part of civic learig, ad a corerstoe of life for youg people. Learig to act resposibly ad i the best iterest of the commo good has all but disappeared i may classrooms, as citizes questio whether or ot there is a commo set of values. 11 Yet, while history has always highlighted uethical decisiomakig, by idividuals, govermets, ad corporatios, schools have bee particularly plagued i recet years. Media reports have highlighted ethical questios i schools. As more ad more high-stakes testig has take hold i classrooms, we are aually told of teachers sharig questios, givig studets extra time, or providig aswers. O the studet frot, the Iteret has played host to a ew world of ethical issues from plagiarism to cheatig. Aecdotal evidece highlights may of these issues that are perhaps best summed by a recet Natioal Ceter for Educatio Statistics (NCES) survey of sophomores. Whe asked about the outcomes they value for the future, oly 19 percet metioed workig to correct social or ecoomic iequalities, while 71 percet metioed becomig a expert i their chose field. 12 The results highlight what may other researchers have oted: a shift from the greater good to the idividual. Reviews of state-level policy may provide some explaatio for the problem with civic learig i the Uited States. While early every state addresses civics cotet i its academic stadards, the quality ad extet of coverage varies greatly. 14 Oe idepedet review of state stadards foud that half the states did ot have clearly specified cotet for civics. 15 Further, the aalysis foud that i o state were the topics teachable withi the allotted time frame. 16 Reports also lamet weak stadards ad coverage i classrooms for world history, with especially weak coverage of political history. 17 O the assessmet frot, few states gauge civics kowledge, relyig istead o classroom-admiis- Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

12 tered ed-of-course exams. 18 Iclusio of the topic i accoutability systems occurs eve less frequetly. As a whole, there is a shockig disregard for the kowledge ad skills essetial to success for youg people i the 21 st cetury., 11 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools Beyod the classroom, several measures highlight a mixed picture of civic egagemet amog youth. The most commo measure votig reveals low participatio rates amog youg adults. Presidetial electios datig from 1972 util 2000 show voter participatio rates amog youg adults decliig. 19 That same group also had a substatially lower turout rate tha voters 25 ad older. While the most recet presidetial electio i 2004 saw a icrease i youth voter participatio (up 11 poits to 47 percet amog year olds), it remais to be see whether this idicates a reversal of almost 30 years of decliig participatio. 20 It should also be oted that voter participatio rates i the Uited States, regardless of age, are geerally lower tha i other coutries. Other measures of civic egagemet reveal some promise. I 2006, thousads of studets across the coutry protested a Cogressioal proposal to toughe U.S. immigratio policy, with may leavig school grouds to do so. Resposes to the walkouts varied, with approval from some pricipals ad teachers, ad threats of suspesio from others. 21 Ulike most adults, who leared of the proposal through ews media, studets leared by word of mouth, fliers, text messages, ad the Iter- Employees for the 21st Cetury I a 2005 speech o educatio i a age of globalizatio, Michael Eskew, Chairma ad Chief Executive Officer of the Uited Parcel Service (UPS), outlied six traits the compay is lookig for i future employees the same six traits he believes the future leaders of America compaies should hold which icluded beig: trade literate; sesitive to foreig cultures; coversat i differet laguages; techology savvy; capable of maagig complexity; ad ethical. 13 Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

13 , 12 Studets for the 21st Cetury Motivatig Youg People to Voluteer A recet study focusig o how youth perceive activism foud four key themes: The emergece of ew techologies, icludig the Iteret, have trasformed the way commuities are defied, ot oly by geography, but also by commo iterests. Several other studies have highlighted the importace of techology to this geeratio of studets, ad the eed for policymakers ad educators to icorporate techology ito learig. There is a activatio gap amog youth, meaig a disparity betwee iterest i a issue ad ivolvemet i a issue. For policymakers ad educators, the key is to move studets from iterested to actio. Real issues of direct relevace to youg people ca ofte serve as the coector. Youth eed a sese of belogig, directio, ad ecouragemet from adults, as well as a degree of flexibility. Further, most youth cosidered highly ivolved started at a early age usually by age 12. Youth oted that better iformatio about opportuities, more time, ad opportuities to be ivolved i voluteerism with frieds would all cotribute to closig the activatio gap. Source: Just Cause, MTV 28 et. 22 Studets most ofte cited support for their parets as their reaso for protestig. 23 As roughly oe-fifth of school-aged youth are childre of immigrats, this presets a eormous eed ad opportuity for schools to educate immigrat childre about democracy i the Uited States. 24 Voluteerism amog youth also has some positive treds. The good ews is that more tha 40 percet of year-olds report voluteerig. 25 What is more, youg people are far more likely to voluteer tha adults. 26 However, the youth voluteerism teds to be more of a oe shot deal, while adults are far more likely to voluteer o a regular basis. 27 Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

14 , 13 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools Withi school walls, participatio i extra-curricular activities is perhaps the best measure of a dispositio toward civic egagemet. The most recet data from NCES that specifically looks at studet govermet foud that just over 15 percet of seiors i high school participate i studet govermet. 29 Other data from 2002 reveal low rates for academic ad hobby-related groups, but that more tha half of studets participatig i sports ad roughly oe-fifth focusig o music. 30 Research has foud that participatio i extracurricular activities ca impact political iterest ad egagemet later i life. Yet data from NCES idicate a decrease i participatio i extracurricular activities i recet years. 31 Give the importace of the global ecoomy ad world affairs, it is troublig, at best, that so may studets are ill-iformed ad uiformed, ad uiterested i civic learig. The questio for state boards of educatio, the, is What role should schools play i fixig this problem? Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

15 , 14 Studets for the 21st Cetury Part 2. The Role of Schools i Promotig Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior: Recommedatios for State Board Actio Democracy eeds to be rebor i each geeratio ad educatio is its midwife. Joh Dewey A majority of state costitutios 40 i all metio the importace of civic literacy. 32 Of those, early oe-third specifically metio the role of schools i promotig citizeship ad democracy. 33 Public opiio mirrors legislators: a recet survey of the America public foud that schools should play a cetral role i teachig civic kowledge ad skills. 34 As the oe place where virtually every child ad youg adult ca be reached, schools are i a uique positio to reach out to future geeratios. Ad give the may years studets sped i schools, their power to ifluece should ot be uderestimated. Yet providig the opportuity for studets to develop ad use civic kowledge ad skills is o easy task with so may competig iterests i how schools allocate time ad resources. The members of the Study Group o Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society discussed a broad array of policy optios to address this timely ad critical issue. What follows are the four broad policy areas where the group felt state boards of educatio could provide direct guidace ad leadership. Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

16 1. Trasform the Culture of Schools Whether the focus is o teacher retetio, school safety, or academic performace, chagig the school culture is ofte cited as a effective strategy for improvemet. Civic learig is o exceptio, especially whe tryig to impact attitude., 15 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools Develop a missio statemet, a code of ethics, ad a pla for implemetatio. Workig together with studets, staff, parets, ad the exteded commuity, school leaders should develop ad implemet a comprehesive missio statemet that icludes civic learig ad egagemet, as well as a set of values for the etire school commuity to follow. This is a importat step i establishig owership by all of the various stakeholders for the ethical code that will guide everyoe durig school-related activities icludig adults. Implemetatio makig the missio a Ethical ad Resposible Behavior i Maie Schools ad Commuities I a survey idetifyig the biggest problems facig teeagers, oe-third of Maie residets cited decliig moral ad/or social values, also metioig that public schools should play a key role i teachig ethical ad resposible behavior. 35 Addressig this ad other cocers, the Maie Commissio for Ethical ad Resposible Studet Behavior outlied the followig values as beig importat: Respect Hoesty Compassio Fairess Resposibility Courage These values apply to effective citizeship i Maie, the atio, ad the globe. The full report, Takig Resposibility: Stadards for Ethical ad Resposible Behavior i Maie Schools ad Commuities, ca be foud olie at cep_reports.htm. Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

17 , 16 Studets for the 21st Cetury Assessig the Civic Climate of Schools The Natioal Ceter for Learig ad Citizeship, housed i the Educatio Commissio of the States, developed a schoolbased self-assessmet that measures the quality of the civic climate. The survey idetifies seve characteristics ad correspodig idicators, icludig recogitio of the civic purpose of educatio; meaigful learig of civic-related kowledge; cooperatio ad collaboratio; trust ad positive iteractios; studets iput ad participatio skills; thoughtful ad respectful dialogue about issues; ad egagemet i ad learig about the commuity. The School Citizeship Educatio Climate Assessmet is available olie at Climate_Assessmet_Istrumet.pdf. reality i the daily life of the school must be part of the pla. While may schools already have a missio statemet, revisitig that statemet will be a valuable exercise to esure that all key stakeholders have iput i outliig the civic goals of the educatio commuity at-large. The missio statemet ad code of ethics should be itegrated ito every aspect of the school experiece. For example, participatio i athletics provides a opportuity for studets to lear about ad exhibit good sportsmaship a code of ethics amog athletes. Every studet ad adult i the school should feel the missio of the school every day as they go about their activities. Provide studets with civic-mided role models. Adult role modelig ca be oe of the most powerful tools i promotig civic egagemet ad ethical behavior. Admiistrators, teachers, staff, parets, ad commuity members all have a role to play i settig a example for studets both iside ad outside of the school grouds. Parets ad commuity leaders ca serve as great resources to teachers i the classroom servig as real-life examples of civic egagemet. For studets, seeig a pricipal, teacher, or coach voluteerig i the commuity or goig door-to-door for a civic cause ca sed a strog message about becomig ivolved i local, state, atioal, ad eve iteratioal issues. As adults icorporate civic life ito their work ad persoal lives, studets follow their example. Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

18 Review policies ad procedures. School persoel should review policies ad procedures already i place to make sure they are aliged with the ew missio statemet ad code of ethics. This is a far-reachig effort that requires effective leadership ad a collaborative approach. Chagig the school climate is arguably the most difficult chage to accomplish, but it is the most importat. Such a effort should esure that members of the commuity are egaged ad ivolved i school activities ad decisio-makig, ad that studets ad parets are give a role i decisio-makig ad the directio of every school s missio ad day-to-day activities., 17 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools 2. Reivigorate Curriculum & Istructio Shiftig the focus of what studets lear ad how they lear it is perhaps the most tagible way to provide studets with civic-related kowledge ad skills. Icorporate civic learig ito stadards-based reform efforts. State leaders should icorporate civic learig ito stadards, pedagogy, assessmet, ad accoutability policies wheever possible, with learig focused o commuity, atioal, ad global cocepts of civic learig. While early all states have stadards that iclude civic compoets, aalyses have foud that the majority of the stadards are ot clear ad specific. 36 Further, few states thus far have icluded civics i assessmet ad accoutability reforms, istead relyig o ed-of-course exams. 37 Ifuse istructio about govermet, history, law, ad democracy ito the curriculum, with a strog global perspective. School curricula should iclude courses focusig o govermet, history, law, ad democracy through a comprehesive social studies program begiig as studets eter elemetary school, ad cotiuig util graduatio. I additio to addressig aspects of America democracy, the coursework should also provide a comparative global perspective, describig how democracies ad other govermets outside of the Uited States work ad assessig how ethical priciples guide global iteractio. I additio, curriculum coordiators ad teachers should itegrate civic learig ito all subject areas. For example, a biology course could iclude a lesso o how pollutio, habitat loss, ad particularly DDT threateed a America symbol, the bald eagle, the show how activists, voluteers, ad cocerted govermet actio helped alleviate the prob- Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

19 , 18 Studets for the 21st Cetury The Civitas Exchage Program The Civitas Exchage Program brigs together educators from aroud the world from emergig ad established democracies. Admiistered by the Ceter for Civic Educatio, i cooperatio with the U.S. Departmets of Educatio ad State, the program provides civic leaders with opportuities to lear from each other. For example, represetatives from Delaware, Marylad, ad Orego are workig with educators i Croatia to develop model lesso plas for civic learig. 38 lem ad brig about the bird s resurgece. Alterately, a study of how wid power will address power shortages ad affect the ecology of the area is both curret ad relevat to youg people. Discuss ad debate curret evets i the classroom. Icorporate discussios of curret local, atioal, ad iteratioal issues ad evets ito the classroom, particularly those that are iterestig to studets. A ope, participatory philosophy should permeate all aspects of school life ad become a defiig attribute of the school. Also, ecourage studet participatio i simulatios of democratic processes ad procedures. Participatory learig sharpes skills of effective citizeship for the commuity, atioal, ad global areas. Now more tha ever, studets are part of a global society, ad discussig curret evets ad how they impact others is a crucial part of developig critical thikig skills. Studets should be ecouraged to iitiate such discussios ad to carry them out i a respectful maer, which allows for a free flow of iformatio amog people of differig viewpoits. Teachers ad school leaders should be ecouraged to iclude such discussios throughout the curriculum, ad be provided with a supportive policy eviromet i which to do so. Icorporate techology ito civic learig activities. Results from the most recet NAEP Civics test i 1998 idicated a gap betwee how we are teachig the subject matter ad how studets of this geeratio lear almost three-quarters of fourth-graders ad more tha half of eighth-graders idicated social studies teachers either ever Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

20 Twety-First Cetury Skills Cocered about how schools ca best prepare studets for the 21st cetury, a partership amog corporate, oprofit, ad govermet agecies icluded i its blueprit a focus o teachig ad learig i a 21st cetury cotext. (See the Partership for 21st Cetury Skills, olie at www. 21stceturyskills.org.) The partership highlighted a eed for more istructio i three areas i particular: global awareess; fiacial, ecoomic, ad busiess literacy; ad civic literacy. 40, 19 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools West Virgiia recetly completed a extesive process of revisig its cotet stadards to iclude the 21st cetury skills outlied by the partership. The 21st Cetury Learig Skills ad Techology Tools Cotet Stadards ad Objectives for West Virgiia Schools ca be foud olie at: wvde.state.wv.us/policies/p _co.pdf. The North Carolia State Board of Educatio has also edorsed the framework from the partership, outliig five goals: North Carolia public schools will produce globally competitive studets. North Carolia public schools will be led by 21 st Cetury professioals. North Carolia public school studets will be healthy ad resposible. Leadership will guide iovatio i North Carolia public schools. North Carolia public schools will be govered ad supported by 21 st Cetury systems. North Carolia was also the first state to create a Ceter for 21st Cetury Skills i cooperatio with the atioal partership i Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

21 , 20 Studets for the 21st Cetury or hardly ever used the Iteret i their classrooms. 39 It has become abudatly clear that the lives of this geeratio of studets are iextricably liked to techology. Studies highlight the beefits of techology to learig ad how it ca impact the quality ad quatity of materials available to studets i eve the most remote rural schools i the world. Techology ca be a icredibly powerful tool i coectig studets to the global commuity, ad such coectios are a importat aspect of civic egagemet. Educators ad policymakers eed to esure that techology is available i the classroom ad other activities ad that it is beig used effectively ad ethically. Iclude ethical discussios ad lessos throughout the school day. It is importat that discussios of ethical issues be ifused throughout the curriculum for studets i all grade levels. This should iclude extra-curricular activities as well. For example, as studets progress through their educatioal careers, they are ofte asked to write reports o ay umber of topics. The Iteret has ufortuately made plagiarism a commo icidet i schools. Virtually ay classroom, regardless of the subject area, could provide lessos o plagiarism, why it is wrog, ad how to avoid it. Other examples of ifusig ethics may focus o a particular subject. Usig sciece classes as a example agai, teachers ca iitiate discussios about the ethics of research, discussig everythig from Nazi experimets o humas to the debate o stem cell research, or eve the public debate o scietific research fuded by drug compaies. Askig appropriate ethical questios, o matter what the subject matter, is a effective meas to create ethical dispositios ad sesibilities i youg people, ad ca also help make academic discussios more persoally relevat ad egagig to studets. 3. Icorporate Service-Learig ad Other Experietial Opportuities I order to fully uderstad what it meas to be a citize, studets must be able to coect subject matter with the places where they live ad the issues that affect them. 41 Service-learig is oe of the most direct ways to make that coectio for studets. Schools should offer servicelearig opportuities coectig curriculum ad commuity begiig i the early grades ad cotiuig through high school. Work with commuity orgaizatios to offer experietial opportuities that are relevat to studets everyday lives ad to academics. Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

22 School persoel ca work with govermet, regulatory bodies ad authorities, ad other commuity-based orgaizatios to create applied ad authetic service-learig opportuities for youth. Usig the commuity as real-world learig opportuities provides a excellet way to coect the studets to the commuity ad the commuity to the school. Whe studets are egaged i real issues cofrotig commuities, schools become part of the problem-solvig ageda ad cotribute to commuity-buildig i a palpable way., 21 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools Ecourage experietial learig through extra-curricular activities. Aother way to ecourage civic learig is through extra-curricular activities. The most evidet is through such activities as school govermet, whe studets have a real opportuity to effect policy ad practice. I may local districts, ad eve states, studets are also beig offered the opportuity to have a voice by servig o policymakig boards ad committees. These activities offer studets a hads-o experiece i civics that is hard to replicate i the classroom. 4. Prepare ad Trai Educators ad Leaders for Civic Teachig Itegral to the success of ay civic learig strategy is havig a wellqualified staff to implemet it. Preparig ad traiig teachers ad leaders for civic learig will require efforts from local, state, ad higher educatio leaders to alig stadards, traiig, ad classroom practice to meet the goals of educatig studets to participate i a democracy i the 21st cetury. Alig pre- ad i-service requiremets for teachers ad leaders with the goals of civic learig. Schools of educatio should stregthe pre- ad i-service traiig of teachers ad leaders i civics. There should be a strog civics compoet as part of the traiig of all educators, regardless of their subject area or focus. I additio, teachers ad leaders should be traied to icorporate service-learig ad other experietial learig ito the curriculum ad other school-related activities. Icluded i this traiig should be a focus o commuity-based learig, which focuses o teachig strategies that eable studets to lear from the commuity, which might iclude the school, eighborhood, or the etire world through the Iteret. 42 Traiig should also iclude a focus o global perspectives. Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

23 , 22 Studets for the 21st Cetury Service-Learig i Marylad I 1992, the Marylad State Board of Educatio became the first i the atio to require service-learig i order to graduate ad Marylad remais the oly state to have such a regulatio. The policy states simply that studets must complete either 75 hours of service or a locally desiged program that has bee approved by the State Superitedet of Schools. Almost a decade ito implemetatio of the policy, service-learig has bee embraced by policymakers ad educators alike, reachig out to studets to provide relevat hads-o experiece i uderstadig the problems faced by commuities ad how to become actively ivolved i makig improvemets. Marylad s seve best practices of servicelearig are to: Meet a recogized eed i the commuity; Achieve curricular objectives through service-learig; Reflect throughout the service-learig experiece; Develop studet resposibility; Establish commuity parterships; Pla ahead for service-learig; ad Equip studets with kowledge ad skills eeded for service. The Divisio of Studet ad School Services, Youth Developmet Brach withi the Marylad State Departmet of Educatio provides a detailed guidace documet for schools outliig the best practices, policies ad reportig, ad accoutability measures, as well as resources, olie at: Also see NASBE s policy brief, Marylad s Service-Learig Requiremet, olie at Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

24 Actio Steps: A Checklist for State Boards of Educatio This sectio icludes a list of the major steps to be take as state boards of educatio address the issue of civic learig., 23 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools 3 Develop a missio statemet that outlies a set of core values for the state board of educatio that will serve as a example for school persoel, studets, ad the commuity. If oe is already i existece, review the missio statemet to esure the iclusio of the board s civic goals. 3 Eact a policy ecouragig local school leaders to develop a missio statemet that outlies a set of core values for the etire school commuity to follow. Withi the policy statemet stress the importace of icludig a broad spectrum of stakeholders, such as studets, parets, teachers, admiistrators, commuity leaders, religious leaders, ad others. For those schools that already have a missio statemet, ecourage a commuity-wide review of the statemet to esure iclusio of civic-mided goals ad values. 3 Review ad revise stadards, assessmets, ad accoutability policies to esure that civic learig has bee icorporated. Also, esure that ethics ad a strog global perspective are ifused throughout stadards ad assessmets. Foreig laguage proficiecy should be icluded as part of the global perspective. 3 Eact a policy ecouragig local schools to provide istructio i civic learig through courses i govermet, history, law, ad democracy begiig i kidergarte ad cotiuig through grade 12. (Some states may istead choose to require a specified umber of courses for graduatio.) As part of the policy, ecourage teachers to icorporate discussios ad debates o curret evets, icludig global issues. 3 Esure that techology is available i every classroom to ehace civic learig, ad provide resources that focus o usig techology as a tool for civic learig. 3 Eact a policy ecouragig service-learig ad other experietial learig opportuities for studets begiig i the elemetary grades ad cotiuig through high school. Also, provide examples of commuity-based ad govermet-orieted orgaizatios that might serve as parters i service-learig, as well as best practices i service-learig programs. Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

25 , 24 Studets for the 21st Cetury Statemet of the New Jersey Coalitio to Support the Civic Missio of the Schools Whereas the most recet Natioal Assessmet of Educatio Progress idicates that oe-third of high school seiors lack a basic grasp of the structure ad operatios of America govermet; ad Whereas 18 to 30 year-olds vote at barely half the rate of their parets, demostratig their lack of iterest ad egagemet i public affairs; ad Whereas civic kowledge ad egagemet are essetial to maitaiig our represetative democracy; ad Whereas the civic missio of the schools, that is, creatig citizes with the kowledge, the skills ad the icliatio to participate i a democratic society, is the very purpose for which public schools were established; We agree that: While the family ad other istitutios help to develop civic kowledge, skills, ad dispositios, it is oe of the primary resposibilities of the schools. Civic educatio requires a uderstadig ot oly of the fuctioig of govermet but also of history, geography, ecoomics, ad other social scieces i order to uderstad curret domestic ad iteratioal public policy issues. Well-defied state social studies stadards ad graduatio requiremets are ecessary to esure that civic educatio is taught effectively i K-12. Teacher educatio ad professioal developmet are importat to esure effective classroom istructio i civic educatio. Well-desiged school programs that foster a uderstadig ad appreciatio of democracy ad fudametal costitutioal priciples are essetial to civic educatio. I recogitio of these fidigs, we resolve to work together to further the civic missio of the schools. Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

26 Studet Leadership i Educatio Policymakig A recet study by NASBE foud that 12 states ad the District of Columbia allow some form of official studet participatio i state board activities. Participatio varies by umber ad votig status. I three states Califoria, Massachusetts, ad Vermot studets have full votig rights, ad Marylad s studet board member has partial votig rights. Vermot also has a secod studet represetative who serves i a advisory capacity oly. Other states, such as Alaska, Coecticut, the District of Columbia, North Carolia, ad Washigto allow for two studet represetatives who serve i a advisory capacity. Hawaii, Iowa, Motaa, ad Nevada allow for oe studet represetative who serves i a advisory capacity. 43, 25 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools I additio to brigig the studet view to board discussios ad ecouragig studet participatio i civic issues at all levels, studet represetatio eables commuicatio from studet leaders back to the studet body o board issues particularly relevat to youg people. 3 Develop a policy statemet ecouragig schools to offer a variety of opportuities for studets to participate i extra-curricular activities with a strog civic compoet. 3 Provide opportuities for studets to participate i state board of educatio activities. State boards of educatio should make a formal statemet about the importace of icludig studets i the decisio-makig process at the state level, ad work to esure studet represetatio i a official, ogoig maer. Depedig o the goverace structure of the state (e.g., costitutioal versus statutory), the degree of this participatio may vary from servig i a advisory capacity to servig as a full votig member of the board. Also, develop a policy statemet ecouragig local educatio boards ad committees to iclude studet represetatio i decisio-makig processes. 3 Review ad revise pre- ad i-service requiremets for teachers to icorporate civic teachig. For those states with idepedet teacher stadards boards, eact a policy statemet callig for the icorporatio of civic teachig. Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

27 , 26 Studets for the 21st Cetury 3 Provide professioal developmet fudig ad/or opportuities to esure that teachers are fully prepared to itegrate civic learig ito the daily curriculum. 3 Collaborate with higher educatio to icorporate civic teachig ito teacher ad admiistrator traiig. 3 Esure there are appropriate staff members at the state educatio departmet (e.g., social studies coordiator, service-learig coordiator) to provide support ad resources to teachers ad admiistrators. NASBE Project Will Promote Studet Leadership at the State Level NASBE, i partership with the MetLife Foudatio, is iitiatig a oe-year effort to assist state boards of educatio i icreasig the presece ad voice of studet leaders at the state level. As part of the project, NASBE will be awardig grats to a umber of states to focus o oe of two areas: Ehacig studet ivolvemet at the state board of educatio; or Expadig the peer etwork of studets curretly servig o state boards of educatio. NASBE will provide techical assistace to selected states to icrease the probability of icludig a studet member o the board, ad work to ehace the commuicatio tools available to studets curretly sittig o state boards of educatio. A pre-coferece semiar will be held as part of NASBE s 2007 Aual Coferece i Philadelphia, PA to highlight lessos leared. A request for proposals (RFP) will be made available to state boards of educatio i December of Awards will be aouced i Jauary of Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society

28 Appedix, 27 Revitalizig the Civic Missio of Schools Resources Key Reports ad other Documets Over the course of its three meetigs, the Study Group o Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior read may reports ad articles o the topic, ad reviewed clearighouse websites. Below are some of the key resources for state boards to review before takig actio. Educatig Democracy: State Stadards to Esure a Civic Core, by the Albert Shaker Istitute, olie at: Restorig the Balace betwee Academics ad Civic Egagemet i Public Schools, by the America Youth Policy Forum ad the Associatio for Supervisio ad Curriculum Developmet, olie at: the Balace Report.pdf. From Classroom to Citize: America Attitudes o Civic Educatio, by the Campaig for the Civic Missio of Schools ad the Alliace for Represetative Democracy, olie at: The Civic Missio of Schools, by Caregie Corporatio of New York ad CIRCLE: The Ceter for Iformatio ad Research o Civic Learig ad Egagemet, olie at: cms_report.html. Commuity-Based Learig: Egagig Studets for Success ad Citizeship, by the Coalitio for Commuity Schools, olie at: NASBE s State Educatio Stadard issue, Schools ad Citizeship: Goig Beyod Govermet 101, olie at: Natioal Associatio of State Boards of Educatio

29 , 28 Studets for the 21st Cetury The Natioal Ceter for Learig ad Citizeship provides a state educatio policy database, olie at: mb2.ecs.org/reports/ Report.aspx?id=105. The Natioal Coferece of State Legislatures report, Citizeship: A Challege for All Geeratios, olie at: trust/citizeship.pdf. The Natioal Service Learig Clearighouse, olie at: Orgaizatios May of the leadig orgaizatios workig i the field of civic learig participated i the Study Group o Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior. Below are some of the orgaizatios that may provide state boards of educatio with techical assistace ad research as they embark upo actio i this area. The Asia Society, olie at: Campaig for the Civic Missio of Schools, olie at: Ceter for Civic Educatio, olie at: The Ceter for Iformatio & Research o Civic Learig & Egagemet (CIRCLE), olie at: The Istitute for Educatioal Leadership, olie at: The Istitute for Global Ethics, olie at: The Natioal Alliace for Civic Educatio (NACE), olie at: Natioal Ceter for Learig & Citizeship (NCLC), Educatio Commissio of the States, olie at: Natioal Coucil for the Social Studies (NCSS), olie at: The Rural School ad Commuity Trust, olie at: Civic Egagemet ad Ethical Behavior i a Global Society