CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ACTION PLAN [INSERT YEAR]

Transcription

1 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ACTION PLAN [INSERT YEAR] Name: Congressional District: In each area below, determine an attainable goal that corresponds to the program needs in your congressional district. Program areas to be addressed include full textbook distribution, outreach, professional development opportunities, showcases and hearings, effective follow-up strategies, and establishment and maintenance of contacts with government officials. Although all these areas need to be addressed, concentrate on those that you believe are priorities for the program year. TEXTBOOK DISTRIBUTION Achieve full textbook distribution and ensure classroom use of all complimentary sets within my congressional district. Establish a balance in book distribution between teachers/youth organization leaders continuing in the program and those who are new. Connect book distribution to professional development opportunities. July 15 August 15 Acquire a list of all teachers who have received books. Work with state coordinator to organize professional development targeting new teachers. OUTREACH Present Project Citizen at state social studies conferences, service clubs, education professionals, and youth organizations.

2 Show the program video. Illustrate the program and how it correlates to state and/or local district standards. Invite students to present a showcase hearing. Demonstrate the program with regard to service learning. Summer months September Create a calendar of social studies/youth organization events. Sign up for state social studies conferences. Distribute flyers and letters advertising the presentation. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Provide professional development for middle grades teachers and youth organization leaders to gain deeper understanding of the Project Citizen. Conduct workshops to train teachers/youth organization leaders to teach Project Citizen. Plan awareness sessions catering to those who use the text, but have not conducted a portfolio showcase or simulated hearing. Professional development focusing on the construction of a portfolio and the simulated hearing process. Professional development focusing on better understanding public policy (invite a public policy expert to talk to participants). November 1 Acquire a list of middle grades teachers who have received texts.

3 December 1 Distribute a calendar of professional development opportunities to teachers participating in Project Citizen. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT PORTFOLIO SHOWCASE/SIMULATED HEARING Hold a showcase/hearing in your congressional district and work towards increasing the number of participating classes Invite teachers/youth organization leaders who are new to the program to observe a showcase/simulated hearing. Follow up with them through the year and encourage them to conduct portfolio showcases/simulated hearings the following year. One month prior Follow-up Invite targeted teachers/youth organization leaders to attend the showcase/simulated hearing. To be determined after the district event. FOLLOW-UP Improve communication with all teachers/youth organization leaders participating in the program, as well as program supporters.

4 Develop a message board that allows participating teachers/youth organization leaders to post any questions/concerns about how to implement Project Citizen in their classroom Once books have been distributed to a teacher/youth organization leader, call or them inquiring about how the implementation of the program is progressing. Make yourself available by /phone for any questions. September 1 September 30 Update the list of teachers program participants. Determine the type of contact to be made with each person. CONGRESSIONAL/STATE LEGISLATURE CONTACT Promote the program within the congressional district. Meet with the contact person in the local office to discuss participation in program events. Invite a member of Congress/state legislator, or their staff to the showcase/simulated hearing. Encourage participation from state legislators and their staff in the America s Legislators Back to School Week.

5 September 1 December 1 Schedule a meeting with the contact person in the local office of your member of Congress/state legislator to discuss their involvement in the program. Invite the member of Congress/state legislator, or their staff to the district showcase. DOCUMENTATION Keep an accurate record of all program events (professional development, showcases, simulated hearings, etc). Request necessary forms (textbook registration forms, professional development forms, event forms) from the Center and distribute them at the appropriate Project Citizen events in your congressional district. Ensure that all forms are thoroughly completed and mailed/faxed to the Center. This will vary; however, prompt submission of forms is required.