April Newsletter: Advocacy in Action, Impact of Civic Ed, & Member Updates
Building a Stronger Democracy, One State at a Time
In This Issue:
Join us for an engaging panel discussion with innovative civics educators from across the country who are inspiring young bridge builders and fostering a culture of our shared humanity in classrooms, communities, and beyond. Hear the panelists’ stories and leave with new ideas to implement at your school! The event will be moderated by Kent Lenci of Middle Ground School Solutions.
How do we break through demonization and division, so prevalent in our time, and ensure a promising future for our country? The flourishing, functional constitutional democracy of tomorrow requires that today’s students develop the bridge-building skills and dispositions that will equip them to collaborate across different perspectives.
This event is intended for public, private, and charter school teachers, school administrators, librarians, homeschoolers, parents of K-12 students, PTA/PTO groups, and anyone interested in learning about practical, creative approaches to bridging divides through education.
Virtual Livestream
March Recap: Federal Funding Update, Civic Learning Week & New Research
Civics Funding Holds Strong in a Tough Fiscal Environment
In This Issue:
There are lots of reports and events about AI and AI and education–few if any have focused on what the emergence of AI means for social cohesion and preparing young people for democracy.
Educators and decision-makers alike will have to wrestle with how AI will interact with the competencies we expect for our learners, how we judge the quality of our educational investments, how to adapt educator practice, and policy. Join our conversation with educators and experts discussing these issues as well as the upcoming report, “Uncharted Waters: Education, Social Cohesion, and Democracy in the Age of AI.”
Highlighting four pieces of newly-released research from Civic Learning Week 2024. The research presented included:
Since the introduction of ChatGPT to the public in late 2022, there has been no shortage of commentary about how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will change all aspects of society, from scientific discovery to employment to education and beyond. The impact of AI on civic education has received considerably less attention. How if at all will AI change civic education? Should it?
This event will aim to demystify these questions, building on the work of the CivXNow Coalition Working Group on AI which convened regularly in fall 2023. Featuring thought leaders in both civic education and AI, the panel will examine how the civic education field can leverage the power of AI tools to improve civic education outcomes. It will also consider how AI creates a sharper need for civic education to help students adapt to risks associated with AI. These include, for example, the growth of synthetic media used to undermine trust in democratic institutions and the online information environment.
Panelists representing a range of perspectives will offer recommendations for educators, researchers, and policymakers. The goal is to use this event to pave the way for further engagement on this topic within the civic education community and with policymakers.
Make Your Voice Heard: Engage in Civic Learning Week
Every Voice Counts During Civic Learning Week
In This Issue:
This month, Jessica Sutter, Chief of Civic Learning Initiatives at Citizens & Scholars, presented the recently released results of The Civic Outlook of Young Adults in America, a nationally representative survey of 18-24-year-olds conducted in partnership with Citizen Data. The survey is part of a multi-year research initiative to measure youth civic preparedness in America, part of Citizens & Scholars’ mission to support and cultivate young people to become civically well-informed, productively engaged, and committed to democracy. Watch the recording now! (PW: 3*mC.nB.)
Happy New Year: Updates from the Coalition and from Across the Country
Civics Springing Forth in State Capitols
In This Issue:
Summary of GBH U.S. History Collection Impact Study
A study to assess the impact of GBH’s PBS LearningMedia U.S. History Collection showed that students gained historical knowledge and thinking skills after being taught with resources from the Collection. The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial and collected data from more than 1,200 students in 86 classrooms across 17 states. Teachers’ classes were randomly assigned to either be taught with the resources (“treatment”) or be taught as they would have otherwise (“business-as-usual”). All students completed the same pre- and post-assessment, and teachers also answered pre- and post-surveys and completed weekly implementation logs. (Read the full report here.)
Remembering Justice O’Connor and Continuing Her Work
How Justice O’Connor Brought Civics to Chicago
In This Issue:
November Updates from the Coalition and from Across the Country
Teacher Advocacy Project Promises to Do Civics for Civics
In This Issue:
Our CivXNow Research and Best Practices group held its monthly brown bag to present findings and preview our official policy recommendations from our joint working group with the Listen First Coalition on AI and its impact on the civic learning field.
Newsletter: New Research, Civic Learning Week, and New Resources & Initiatives
Successive Surveys Show Low Civic Knowledge and the Impact of Civic Learning and Engagement
In This Issue:
Newsletter: Updated State Policy Scan, Research on Civic Exams & Event Recaps
2023 Civic Education State Policy Scan Results
In This Issue:
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, our CivXNow Research and Best Practices group held its monthly brown bag on the Untold Stories of Latinos in History, led by partners from Unidos and the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy.
Newsletter: NH’s Policy Win, Constitution Day, Research on AI & More
A Deeper Dive on New Hampshire’s Policy Win
In This Issue:
Newsletter: Civics Summer Reading, August Recess Planning & More
Civics in the News
Inside this newsletter:
Newsletter: End of State Session Recap, New Research, Civic Season & Aug. Recess
End of Session Recap: States Make Progress In Civic Education Policy
Inside this newsletter:
Newsletter: NAEP Results Deep Dive, Civic Learning Week ‘24, Research & More
A Deeper Dive into What NAEP Civics Tells Us: Urgent Need for Policies Supporting Effective Practices
Inside this newsletter:
Newsletter: Show Appreciation for Civics Teachers, New Advisory Council Member & More
Honor Civics Teachers by Supporting Investments in Their Professional Development
Inside this newsletter:
Newsletter: Advocating for Information Literacy, State Updates & More
Propelling Information Literacy Through Public Policy
Inside this newsletter:
Civic Learning Week, New State Legislation & More
Civic Learning Week: How Partners Are Engaging
Inside this newsletter:
SAVE THE DATE! We’re thrilled to announce the first-ever national Civic Learning Week this March 6th through 10th! Building on the successful localized efforts in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York City in 2022, this upcoming Civic Learning Week will bring together students, educators, policymakers, and leaders to energize the movement for civic education across the nation.
You’re invited to livestream the Opening Forum on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. ET, hosted by the National Archives. Registration for the forum and all other events will open in late January. Please save the date.
Visit the website to learn more and subscribe to receive event announcements. Here is a sample of the 50+ in-person and virtual events that will be part of Civic Learning Week:
Want to learn more about Civic Learning Week? Contact CLW@icivics.org with questions.
Thursday, February 16 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Now is the time to come together to cultivate people as informed, engaged, and hopeful citizens. Creating a common knowledge base and practices to measure civic readiness and opportunities will enable us to chart the course to a healthy and robust democracy that works for all.
The Institute for Citizens & Scholars presents a comprehensive civic measurement landscape review and a first-of-its-kind framework for mapping civic readiness and opportunities. Mapping Civic Measurement: How are we assessing readiness and opportunities for an engaged citizenry? features a collection of measurement tools, rubrics, and more than 200 resources in use by practitioners across education, business, philanthropy, community institutions, media, government, and civil society.
To launch this groundbreaking report, Citizens & Scholars will present its findings at a virtual event on February 16 at 3pm ET.
By registering for the event, you’ll get access to an early copy of Mapping Civic Measurement and a front-row seat for a conversation between leading voices in the civic space.
Tuesday February 7, 2023 | 3:00 PM Eastern | Virtual
History and civics appear to be flashpoints in education’s culture wars– what gets taught, how, and by whom are a significant matter of debate and disagreement. But recent polls and studies show these “history wars” are largely taking place between “imagined enemies,” and that caregivers across parties, ideologies, and income levels support increasing the teaching of history and civics and believe it deserves more funding and emphasis in the curriculum.
What should proponents of history and civics education take from these findings? What opportunities exist to cut through politicized narratives and provide meaningful civics for America’s young people? How can philanthropy help?
Please join PACE for a discussion on these questions and more; advanced review of data from Cygnal (https://civxnow.org/likely-voters-and-parents-of-all-stripes-show-strong-support-for-investing-in-k-12-civics/) and More in Common (https://www.historyperceptiongap.us/) is highly encouraged. This event is intended to have a philanthropy focus, but may be relevant for non-funder audiences as well; all are welcome to join.
The dialogue is presented in collaboration with CIRCLE, iCivics, Jack Miller Center, Democracy Funders Network, Bill of Rights Institute, and More in Common.
A New Year for Civic Education Advocacy
Celebrating Progress and Continuing Our Work Together
Inside this newsletter:
Businesses can play a role in promoting civics education by supporting greater investment in civics education in middle and high school, and in engaging lawmakers. Today for comparison, we invest 5 cents pers child, vs. nearly $54 for STEM.
Join us January 26th for a discussion about the future of civics education with leaders from the civics and business communities. Jerry Zimmerman from Allstate will describe how the company is championing civics education and how you and your business can make an impact in your state and communities. We’ll also hear from Louise Dube about state based civics education efforts, and Kristen Cambell on public perceptions about democracy and civic education.
The conversation will focus on recent developments in Congress and current efforts at the state level to increase funding for civics education. We’ll also focus on initiatives that Business for America and its business partners are developing to mobilize support and action.
Speakers:
Jerry Zimmerman, Senior Vice President Government & Industry Relations, Allstate
Louise Dube, Executive Director, iCivics
Kristen Cambell, CEO, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement
Thursday, December 1, 2022 | 1:00–4:00 p.m. ET | Franklin Hall 1
Join the iCivics Policy Team in Philadelphia on Thursday, December 1, at 1:00 p.m. ET for our pre-conference session at the National Council for the Social Studies’ (NCSS) annual conference: Doing Civics for Civics: Social Studies Teachers on the Frontline Advancing Stronger Civic Education.
Social studies teachers are at the heart of sustaining and strengthening our constitutional democracy as they prepare our students to be informed and engaged participants in our self-governing society. During this half-day workshop we’ll explore the key role educators can play in advancing state and federal policies that strengthen K–12 civic education. Participants will have time to network and learn from one another, engaging in activities including breakout sessions, live polls, and compelling exchanges. Food will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to bring a mobile device to participate in some of the planned activities. Please register through the online conference schedule. We hope to see you there!
This Month in Review & What Lies Ahead for Civic Education
Celebrate Civics and Its Vital Importance to Our Constitutional Democracy
Inside this newsletter:
Support for Civic Education Continues to Grow
Likely Voters and Parents of All Stripes Show Strong Support for Investing in K–12 Civics
Inside this newsletter:
Thursday, October 27, 2022 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET
Hosts: iCivics/CivXNow, Media Literacy Now, News Literacy Project
Our country and constitutional democracy can only thrive when schools prepare the next generation to be literate and independent consumers and producers of news and media. That mission can only be achieved when schools first reflect a broader civic mission. For decades, that mission has been under resourced in terms of both funding and time on topic. The bipartisan Civics Secures Democracy Act offers an opportunity to invest a billion dollars a year for the next five years in civics and U.S. history, explicitly calling out functions of media literacy. Come learn about how the media literacy community serves as a linchpin to getting this bill to the finish line and reclaiming the civic mission of schools.
The objectives of this event are to:
– Learn how media literacy education is an essential consideration as advocates seek the revival of schools’ civic mission.
– Understand the opportunities the Civics Secures Democracy Act provides the media literacy community.
– Be empowered to serve as active advocates for the bill and the civic mission of schools it supports.
Panelists:
– Ebonee Rice, Senior Vice President of the Educator Engagement Group, News Literacy Project
– Erin McNeill, President and Founder, Media Literacy Now
– Monica Valdes, Social Studies Chairperson and Film Teacher, West Miami Middle School
– Moderated by Ace Parsi, Director of Coalition Engagement, iCivics
Thursday, October 27, 2022 | 2:00–5:00 p.m Pacific
To celebrate National Civics Day on October 27, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library will join forces with the Partnership for American Democracy, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Karsh Institute for Democracy at the University of Virginia, and Our Common Purpose at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for “Our Civics: Safeguarding Our Democracy.” The program will feature discussions with policymakers, practitioners, and partners in civic education on the vital role of universal civic learning in our democracy.
News From the Front Lines of Civic Education
Stronger Civics an Antidote to “Threats to Democracy”
Inside this newsletter:
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 | 2:00 pm Eastern
A strong constitutional democracy is good for business. The strength and stability of one is intrinsically linked to the other. And civic education is a proven, long-term investment in a thriving American democracy. iCivics is proud to partner with business leaders to explore the vital connection between civic education and the U.S. economy. Please join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on Wednesday, September 28, at 2:00 pm ET for the next episode of Civics Forward: Investing in Civics to Secure Democracy—A Business Imperative as we explore the tie between civic education and the U.S. economy.
Travelers’ Janice Brunner, Group General Counsel and Head of Civic Engagement, will be joined by William A. Galson, Ezra K. Zilkha Chair and Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, and Louise Dube, Executive Director, iCivics.
Share this event with anyone interested in learning more about civics, and tune in live to ask the experts your biggest questions.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 | 3:00pm – 4:15pm Eastern
Young people want to learn about elections in school and, when they do, they’re more likely to vote, engage in their communities, and become engaged and informed members of our self-governing society. Despite the extraordinary efforts of many educators, civic education too often is insufficient and inequitable. We can change that.
Join us for a research presentation and panel, co-hosted by CIRCLE and iCivics, on how K-12 schools can play a role in preparing young people for participation in our nation’s constitutional democracy. The civic education experts at CIRCLE will share major findings and recommendations from the CIRCLE Growing Voters report about teens’ civic learning experiences — or lack thereof — and the role of schools in a paradigm-shifting framework for supporting young people’s civic development. In conversation with educators, students, teacher trainers, and other education leaders, we’ll discuss what these findings mean for multiple stakeholders in the K-12 schools ecosystem and the practical steps they can take to ensure each and every student, especially those from disadvantaged or marginalized communities, receives a high-quality civic education during this school year and into the future.
Co-hosted by CIRCLE and iCivics
Wednesday, August 17 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET
Join us for a virtual briefing on CSD, where we’ll walk through the bill’s specifics, provide the latest updates on its progress, and model how to conduct in-person or virtual meetings.
JULY 27 & 28TH 2022 | RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION & INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC
In 2022, the Reagan Institute Summit on Education (RISE) will examine Networked: The Quest for Connectivity, convening in a hybrid capacity at the new Ronald Reagan Institute building in Washington, DC.
This year’s theme endeavors to examine connectivity in its most literal sense, through broadband and infrastructure, as well as through the individual and systemic connections students need to thrive. As learners emerge from a global pandemic, battling a sense of seismic isolation and addressing holistic support will be critical to the education equation. Similarly, in the wake of generational investments in education, local school systems and state legislatures must work in concert to ensure that this opportunity equitably shifts our schools to prepare students for the challenges of the 22nd century.
July 15-17, 2022 | Virtual
The National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) hosts the largest professional development conference dedicated to media literacy education in the U.S. Join hundreds of educators, practitioners, scholars, and concerned citizens virtually at NAMLE’s 2022 Conference!
Civic Education Advocacy Is Heating Up in July
Looking Ahead to Civics Secures Democracy Act Reintroduction in the House
Inside this newsletter:
• Affinity Group Meetings Recap
• Research Spotlight: Growing Voters
• Upcoming Coalition Meetings and Partner Events
• New Coalition Members
Strong Support for Civic Education on Display in May
Civics Secures Democracy Act on Cusp of Reintroduction
Inside this newsletter:
• State Spotlights
• May Weeks of Action Recap
• New Coalition Members
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Elementary and middle school leaders are reclaiming the civic mission of schooling through the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap. Come explore how this work is taking shape inside and outside of the classroom and how your school can engage!
The participant will:
Thursday, May 12, 2022 | 3:30 PM Central
#Civics4CommUNITY Awareness Week
Join inquirED and the National Council for the Social Studies for a special webinar with Sam Wineburg as part of #Civics4CommUNITY Awareness Week.
Civic Literacy: More Important than Ever in a Digital World
With special guest Sam Wineburg (Founder & Executive Director, Stanford History Education Group).
We are flooded by conflicting messages every time we turn on our laptop. How do we prepare our students to cope with this complexity? Join us as we explore conflicting narratives about historical events, and how we can use them to teach our students to think clearly and critically.
Our communities need civic education more than ever. This week we join other partners in the CivXNow Coalition #Civics4CommUNITY Awareness Week because we know that civic education is essential to the health and strength of our constitutional democracy!
Updates on Our Shared Work to Advocate for Civic Education
Appreciating our Teachers, the Foremost Guardians of our Constitutional Democracy
Inside this newsletter:
• Educators Advocate for Civics
• May Weeks of Action
• Upcoming Events
• April Events Recap
• New Coalition Members
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 | 2:00p.m. – 3:15p.m. Eastern
Hosted by: The Reagan Institute
A virtual panel featuring Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Sydnee Dickson, and other notable education leaders in Utah. Please join The Reagan Institute on April 26th at 2PM ET for “The State of Civics: Utah.”
Moderated by Dr. Janet Tran, Director of the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity, this virtual conversation will highlight the exemplary civic education initiatives of Utah. Utah’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Sydnee Dickson, and other notable education leaders will discuss their current efforts and experiences that lift civics in Utah’s schools. Utah is the sixth state in the “State of Civics” series hosted by the Reagan Institute.
The aim of this series is to better understand the current state policy environment for civic learning and engagement across the country. Civic learning not only supports academic achievement and 21st Century workforce skills but serves as a key to strengthening our democratic republic.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern
Access to high quality civics and history education is increasingly seen as a civil right, one that should be afforded to all students, including those with disabilities and those learning English as a second language. Join presenters Rich Cairn (Emerging America), Kimberly Eckert (2018 Louisiana Teacher of the Year), and Leslie Villegas (New America) as they outline how to translate this right from theory to practical reality. Co-hosted by CivXNow and Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA).
Thursday, April 14, 2022 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern
This event is hosted by Business for America and CivXNow.
A more informed and engaged citizenry contributes to stronger democratic institutions, which leads to more solid and sustainable economic outcomes. This in turn helps to reduce market and political instability. Conversely, continued neglect of civic education will continue to weaken the nation’s civic and economic strength. The interdependency of a free market and constitutional democracy makes instability a serious threat to economic prosperity, putting at risk businesses and employees, as well as supply chains and investments. The more informed the public is about civics, the less likely people are to invest in conspiracies and accept dis and mis-information.
What is the Civics Secures Democracy Act?
The congressional bipartisan Civics Secures Democracy (CSD) Act would authorize $1 billion annually over five years, primarily to states and school districts. It also provides competitive grants to qualifying institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and researchers in their respective roles in advancing high-quality civics and history education in elementary and secondary schools.
Filed by Reps. Tom Cole (R-OK), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) in the House, and Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Senate, the bill has more than a dozen bipartisan cosponsors.
Learn how your business can support passage of this important legislation.
Speakers:
Jerry Zimmerman, SVP & Deputy General Counsel, Government & Industry Relations, Allstate Corporation
Chuck Dunlap, President & CEO, Indiana Bar Foundation
Louise Dubé, Executive Director, iCivics
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Eastern
This event is hosted by PACE, the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, Generation Citizen, and CivXNow.
PACE’s Civic Language Perceptions Project seeks to understand peoples’ perceptions of the language associated with “civic engagement and democracy” work. At best, are we talking past each other? At worst, are we furthering divisions and/or disengagement? In 2019, PACE took its first steps of exploration on this topic; since then, the world has changed, the need to understand has grown, and the questions about what we do have become more urgent. In partnership with Citizen Data, the Rita Allen Foundation, and the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, PACE fielded a nationally representative survey in November 2021 to poll 21 terms commonly used in “civic engagement and democracy” work and to understand how people perceive and associate them. PACE released the data on March 23, 2022, which is fully accessible at www.PACEFunders.org/Language.
For additional depth, survey participants were asked whether they recall taking civic education classes, which means we can look to explore the relationship between civic education background and perceptions and associations of “civic engagement and democracy” language.
Join us on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 from 3-4pm Eastern for an overview of the project and a deep dive on the impact of civic education on the language of democracy.
A Busy March for CivXNow: Month in Review
Updates on Our Work to Advocate for Civic Education
Inside this newsletter:
• Announcing State Affiliate Grant Recipients
• March All Member Meeting Recap
• Civic Learning Week in Review
• Research Roundup
• New Coalition Members
Garnering Support for the Civics Secures Democracy Act & Coalition Updates
Inside this newsletter:
• Call to Action: Civics Secures Democracy Act
• Check Out What’s New at CivXNow.org
• Economic Stability Requires Robust Civic Education
• Welcoming New Members to the CivXNow Advisory Council
• March 10 All-Member Meeting
• New Coalition Members
Thursday, February 10th, 2022 | 2:00–3:00pm ET
In preparation for the impending reintroduction of the Civics Secures Democracy (CSD) Act, please register to join us for our CSD Advocacy Toolkit Launch. You’ll get a demo of these exciting new resources just added to our website to support bill tracking and advocacy efforts.
CivXNow News: State RFP, On-Demand Webinar, New CSD Toolkit, & More
Kicking Off the New Year with Strong Momentum for Civic Education
Inside this newsletter:
• Event Recap: Civic Education Webinar
• CSD Advocacy Toolkit Launch
• State Grant RFP: Deadline to Apply Jan. 28
• Preserving Democracy Documentary
• Civic Engagement Research
• Member Survey Results
• New Coalition Members
Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 | 2:00pm ET- 3:15pm ET
Hosted by: The Reagan Institute
A virtual panel featuring Georgia’s State School Superintendent, Richard Woods, CEO of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, Dr. Randell Trammell, and other notable education leaders.
Please join The Reagan Institute on January 26th at 2PM ET for “The State of Civics: Georgia.” Moderated by Dr. Janet Tran, Director of the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity, this virtual conversation will highlight the exemplary civic education initiatives of Georgia. Georgia’s State School Superintendent, Richard Woods, CEO of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, Dr. Randell Trammell, and other notable education leaders will discuss their current efforts and experiences that lift civics in Georgia’s schools.
Georgia is the fifth state in the “State of Civics” series hosted by the Reagan Institute. The aim of this series is to better understand the current state policy environment for civic learning and engagement across the country. Civic learning not only supports academic achievement and 21st Century workforce skills but serves as a key to strengthening our democratic republic.
Hosted by: The Commonwealth Club of California
With deep political divides dominating America’s civic culture and affecting how the U.S. is viewed abroad, civics education is increasingly being seen as a national security issue. Improving K-12 students’ understanding of America’s civic structures—from the Constitution to voting, to clarity about our national security institutions and how they operate within the rule of law—is being seen by national leaders as a way to strengthen the role of the U.S in the world, and to protect the country’s national interests. Similar to the push for STEM education funding to address America’s global role in science and technology, many officials now support expanded funding for civics and history education as a way to improve student learning about their civic responsibilities in our participatory democracy.
The program is part of the Commonwealth Club’s Creating Citizens initiative.
This is an online-only program; pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream video.
Friday, January 21, 2022 | 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET
Co-hosted by: CEE and CivXNow
Join the CivXNow Coalition and The Center for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia University for a jointly hosted webinar featuring four of the country’s leading civic education scholars and researchers. Panelists summarized the latest research findings on the links between civic education and civic engagement later in life, and discussed the critical role that civic education must play at this time in sustaining our democracy.
Panelists:
• David E. Campbell, Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy, University of Notre Dame
• Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Newhouse Director, Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, of CIRCLE, Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University
• Meira Levinson, Juliana W. and William Foss Thompson Professor of Education and Society, Harvard University
• Jane C. Lo, Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education, Michigan State University.
Moderated by: Rashid Duroseau, Civics Program Director for Democracy Prep Public Schools
CivXNow Grant Opportunity, Webinar, and Member Survey
Looking Ahead to the New Year
Inside this update:
• State Grant RFP: Deadline to Apply Jan. 28
• Civic Education Webinar: Jan. 21
• Member Survey
CivXNow works with and supports coalitions and entities operating within a state that are committed to including the broad diversity mirroring one’s state in the development of meaningful, bipartisan civic learning policy and practice improvements consistent with the recommendations outlined in the CivXNow Policy Menu. We believe that work at the state-level needs to be driven by state actors — such as the successes in Massachusetts and Indiana — and that a national organization’s best role is to facilitate and support their work so local advocates can drive the policy solutions that best represent their state.
To assist state-level coalitions/task forces in their coalition-building and policy work, CivXNow is opening our second Request for Proposal grantmaking process (RFP). Applicants have the opportunity to submit an application requesting up to $20,000 through CivXNow, a project of iCivics. The deadline to apply is January 28, 2022 by 4pm ET.
State Coalition Grant Opportunity FAQ
This is the moment to rebuild the nation’s civic strength. We need to invest in civic education. CivXNow seeks proposals from state-level civic learning coalitions to help support their coalition work and accelerate their policy progress.
How can I apply?
When can I apply?
When will grant applicants be notified of funding decisions?
How much funding can our coalition request?
How can we use the funding?
When does the grant period end?
Who can apply?
What documents do I need to apply?
How will funding decisions be determined?
Proposals will be evaluated on the following:
Will I have to report to anyone on the grant progress?
Who is providing funding for these grants?
Who do I contact with questions?
Advances in Civic Education + Planning for 2022
Why We Advocate for Civic Education
Inside this newsletter:
• Girl Scouts CEO Reflects on Civics
• Highlights from State Grant Recipients
• Recap of Our Member Meeting
• Member Survey
• New Coalition Members
2021 has been an eventful year for civic education. We’ve seen great strides in advancing a vision of civics to unify our coalition and also our share of collective challenges. Please join us for this November end of the year meeting of the coalition as we share updates and strategize our course and goals for 2022.
Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 1pm ET
Please find the agenda here and be in touch with Ace Parsi, ace.parsi@icivics.org, if you have questions.
Civics Roundup: Policy, Research & Case Studies
An update on the Civics Secures Democracy Act.
Inside this newsletter:
Growing bipartisan consensus recognizes that civic education, equitably-delivered, is a critical component of rebuilding the civic strength of our country. To improve and strengthen civic education, state policies must be aligned to this goal. View policy sessions bringing together current and former members of Congress, state governors and policymakers, education leaders, philanthropists, and historians discussing how to shape state and federal policy to provide high-quality civic education for all K-12 students in the United States.
A Recap of Last Week’s Policy Summit
Inaugural CivXNow Policy Summit illuminates a unified path for stronger K–12 civics.
Inside this newsletter:
Advocacy Continues for Civic Education
August, a month for advocacy on behalf of the Civics Secures Democracy Act.
Inside this newsletter:
Civics Legislation Updates & Opportunities to Participate
Civics in the spotlight throughout spring state legislative sessions.
Inside this newsletter:
Gaining Momentum for the Civics Secures Democracy Act
Doing civics for civics.
Inside this newsletter:
A Shout Out to Teachers on the Front Lines of Civic Education
Civics teachers are guardians of our constitutional democracy.
Inside this newsletter:
Advancing Civic Education with 2 Landmark Initiatives
Momentum Gaining for Civic Education
Inside this newsletter:
Updates on Civic Education Legislation, Youth Voice, and More
Your support for the Educating for Democracy Act will be needed soon.
Inside this newsletter:
You’ve heard about it, but what is Educating for American Democracy (EAD)? Listen to the free CivXNow webinar featuring Dr. Danielle Allen of Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and be among the first to hear about the EAD initiative and how you can get involved.
EAD is a cross-ideological collaboration among over 300 academics, historians, political scientists, K-12 educators, district and state administrators, civics providers, students, and others from across the country to create a roadmap for integrated, in-depth, inquiry-based history and civic education for the 21st century.
January 6, 2021 is a day that will live in infamy. The violence visited upon the U.S. Capitol—the very building that symbolizes our constitutional democracy—is further evidence of the fragility of our democracy. This was an insurrection by an angry mob, incited by the current President and other elected leaders determined to thwart the democratic process. They did not succeed and our institutions held.
The leadership of the CivXNow Coalition unites in condemning the insurrection and urges all citizens and leaders to do the same.
This moment is shameful, yet it provides an opportunity. Shameful that leaders—including losing candidates and enablers—instigated a rampage to stop a constitutionally mandated act of Congress. But an opportunity to strengthen our civic system going forward.
Young people are eager to become part of our 245-year experiment in self-government. But in order to do so, we need to ensure that the civic mission of schools remains at the heart of education. All students must be provided excellent in-depth civic education that equips them with the tools to address the challenges before our nation today from misinformation and polarization to racial injustice. That will require an honest accounting of all aspects of our history—the tremendous ideals espoused in our founding documents along with the ugly failures —so that all students can hear the voices of those who have not traditionally been featured in history books. Civic education is the path toward a constitutional democracy that reflects the very ideals we aspire to: equality and justice.
So, today, as the leadership of the Coalition, we rededicate ourselves to protecting our constitutional democracy by investing in its young people. We must emerge from these dark days with a hopeful determination to right our ship of state. That is what our constitutional democracy demands.
“Civic education is the only way for America to maintain its democracy in a legitimate way.”
— May-Ya Nguyen, 10th grader, New Jersey
Civic Education: What to read, watch, and do this month
Help us advocate for civic education in 2021!
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Moving forward after the election to build a stronger constitutional democracy.
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Celebrate Media Literacy Week October 26th through 30th!
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CivXNow Open Forum: Equity in Civic Education
Tuesday, October 20th | 5-6:15pm ET
Where are the opportunities to actively pursue equity in our organizations and the field? During these historic times we are being called by our constituents to engage in creative solutions that help us tackle the realities today’s students are facing in the classroom and beyond. Realizing that many of us sit somewhere along the continuum from how to successfully implement equity in civics programming to understanding what equity in civics means to your organization, CivXNow is facilitating space to explore this critical issue as a field. We don’t have all the answers but will share some insights from the Equity in Civics Steering Committee; a project supported by the Hewlett Foundation and in partnership with Generation Citizen, which has been focused on equity over the past year.
Join Verneé Green of Mikva Challenge, Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg of CIRCLE, and Andrew Wilkes of Generation Citizen and moderator Amber Coleman-Mortley of iCivics for a collaborative discussion. This is not a panel; rather an exchange between organizations. Guests are encouraged to bring their success stories, burning questions, insights, and expertise to the event.
Help shape the conversation by letting us know what steps your organization is taking to address both internal and external diversity, equity, and inclusion by filling out the brief survey here.
Listen to the Student Summit on Civics
Commonwealth Club, in partnership with CivXNow, presented a webinar highlighting the need for student voice and civic education during these unprecedented times. Join 2020 Equity in Civics Youth Fellows A’Niya Bankston (CA), Matthew Green (PA), Marcus McNeill (MA), and Viren Mehta (CA) for a student-led discussion on the issues that are most important to this generation and their solutions moving forward moderated by journalist Moriah Balingit of The Washington Post.
Americans Believe Civics is THE Solution to What Ails Our Democracy
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Listen to the Meeting the Moment lecture
New Hampshire Institute for Civics Education, in partnership with the Warren B. Rudman Center at the University of New Hampshire School of Law, presented a William W. Treat Lecture to celebrate Constitution Day featuring CivXNow Advisory Council members, Louise Dube and Ted McConnell.
Forging a Path Toward Equity
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Often, the answer to the question, “What is the purpose of civic education?” is focused on teaching the fundamentals of our constitutional democracy so that more of our citizens understand our system of governance, vote, commit to community service, and engage in local politics. These are important tenets of civics.
The moment at hand – as millions of Americans have raised their voices in outcry against racial inequities, institutional racism, and incidents of racist attacks that have pervaded this country since its beginnings – is a stark reminder that civic engagement is also a manifestation of our commitment to self-governance. Sometimes the voice of the people is best heard when people are joined together. As a result of the protests, in short order, we are beginning to see movement toward change; some of us are among those trying to make change as part of the gathered people.
As the Advisory Council of CivXNow, we are writing this open letter, urging that now is the time that we as a Coalition should listen to that voice and lift it up where it already speaks from among us.
Protests can be traced back to our nation’s founding, and are often the most vivid evidence that it is the people who ultimately govern. Today, peaceful protestors who have taken to the public square in every corner of our country in the aftermath of yet another police killing of a Black man, George Floyd, are shouting in the streets that we must take more seriously our commitment to equality and justice, and to addressing systemic, particularly anti-Black, racism.
CivXNow – a community of over 120 organizations – is dedicated to prioritizing and improving civic education. The signers of this letter believe that we can, and we must, do better to integrate racial equity into our work. We must lift up voices from communities of color to learn more about the disjuncture between civic education as it is traditionally taught and the realities experienced by students of color every day – and we are urging other members of the Coalition to add their names to this.
Individually our members have released dozens of statements condemning recent police violence, supporting legislation on police reform, standing in solidarity with the Black community, calling for action and an end to racism in our democracy – and for changing the way we teach civics to layer important historical context. We invite you to add your organization’s statements to this list. Please email Patricia Leslie-Brown links to your statements if you would like to add yours.
But now cannot simply be a time for making statements. This moment should propel us to build better civic education moving forward. This does not necessarily mean a wholesale change. Civic education includes civic knowledge, the skills to engage in the civitas, the dispositions to engage with diverse viewpoints, and the agency to take action. Yet civic educators must also dig deeper, and teach with more depth and nuance so that students can grasp the racist patterns in our history, develop the breadth of moral vision necessary to overcome them, and be motivated to act. We must make a commitment to tell the full and complex story of our republic – including how racism has manifested itself in the work of our institutions – so that students can learn how to recognize racism today, and become advocates proactively working against anti-Black racism. This is a moral imperative.
Civic education must teach about our country’s ideals of equality and justice – about when this country has pursued those ideals with integrity and when it has failed to live up to them – because as students of history, we know that justice will not come without the people demanding it.
The success of our Coalition’s work will depend on collective and individual efforts. Many of our member organizations have indicated that they need to revisit core elements of their work to address racism. We urge every organization in the Coalition to continue conversations about race, and to consider taking urgent steps to help all our nation’s young people understand the historical and continuing impact of systemic racism and also to acquire the tools, skills, and moral vision to overcome it.
Over the past year and a half, a diverse group has been grappling with the issue of equity in civics through a Hewlett Foundation funded Equity in Civics grant co-facilitated by Generation Citizen and iCivics. Over 30 people have been engaged with this work so far, including many members of the CivXNow Coalition. The goal of the project is to advance the issue of racial justice in the field of civic education. We will publish our results this Fall. Never has the success of that work been more critical. We recognize that this is only a first step of a larger process of change that must happen throughout the field.
We do not have all of the answers within the civic education field, and we must continue on the path of learning and discovery. This is only the beginning. The commitment of the Coalition – in its own work – is to a process of listening, learning, and action.
For instance:
The civil unrest of the past several weeks has elicited voices on both sides of the aisle. Addressing racism is not a partisan issue, and it’s good to see that our political leaders recognize that, even in this polarized time. It’s once again brought to the forefront conversations about ending racial inequality that we need to make a permanent pillar of our work – and not just a matter we revisit after each violent incident.
We issue the call to members of the Coalition interested in joining a conversation about racial equity to get in touch with Patricia Leslie-Brown.
The civic education community has always focused on supporting, and in many instances rebuilding, the civic fabric of our country. But civic strength can be built only when the words found above the entrance to the United States Supreme Court ring true: Equal Justice Under Law. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice, but he emphasized that it does not bend on its own. It is a “tragic misconception,” he wrote, that “the very flow of time… will inevitably cure all ills. Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively.” As a community, we must work together to strengthen our national commitment to a present and future that lives up to the best of our country’s founding ideals of liberty, equality, and effective self-government, and that also builds beyond them to address injustice.
Sincerely,
Danielle Allen, Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University
Brian Brady, President, Mikva Challenge
Kristen Cambell, Executive Director, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement
Louise, Dube, Executive Director, iCivics
Shawn Healy, Democracy Program Director, Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Peter Levine, Associate Dean, Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University
Ted McConnell, Senior Policy Advisor, CivXNow
Julie Silverbrook, Senior Director of Growth Initiative, iCivics
Sterling Speirn, Senior Fellow, National Conference on Citizenship
Scott Warren, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Generation Citizen
Andrew Wilkes, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, Generation Citizen
Civic Education & Racial Justice – The Work We Need To Do
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What do the NAEP Civics results really mean?
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Listen to the webinar to hear from panelists A’Niya Bankston (Deer Valley High School, CA), Jaden Deal (Harvard, by way of IA), and Alexandra Henderson (LSU Lab School, LA) as they explore whether students are getting what they need from their civic education. This webinar passes the mic to the students, allowing them to share their insights and experiences working with adults to bring equitable change to their civic learning environments. If students are our primary stakeholders, why aren’t we asking them what they think? This session focuses on the impact of the Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, highlighting student voice as central to the discussion on equity in civic education.
Hear from CivXNow Coalition members, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Listen to the webinar to learn about collaborative opportunities available with these two organizations, how they serve Black and Brown communities, and so much more!
Federal policy webinar featuring the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, Andrew Wilkes of Generation Citizen, President of Linchpin Strategies Catriona Macdonald, and CivXNow Senior Policy Advisor Ted McConnell. Listen to the webinar where we discuss H.R. 6415 Inspire to Serve Act, CivXNow’s efforts to secure $40 Million in emergency civics funding, the Paycheck Protection Program, the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) program, and answer your questions about how Coalition members can support these initiatives and access federal civic education funding!
The greatest living lesson in civics of our lifetimes!
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Educating for American Democracy: A Roadmap for Excellence in History and Civics Education for All Learners brought together academics and practitioners in education, civics, history, and political science for the first of two field convenings at Louisiana State University on February 2-4, 2020.
Together we discussed the current state of history and civics curricula across the country to begin developing a “Roadmap for Excellence” that outlines for teachers, schools, and district and state policy-makers high-priority civic content areas. In addition, we will consider recommendations for instructional strategies and best practices to integrate the teaching of civics and history at every grade level. We also hear from students, teachers and publishers about what they envision for the future of civic education to inform these discussions. The convening was a critical conversation on the Roadmap for Excellence in History and Civic Education for All Learners.
Your state can implement effective civic education that transforms schools!
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Renowned media training expert Jess Todtfeld gave a special webinar to the members of the Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship on the Do’s and Don’ts of giving interviews to the media including a crash course on strategies for pitching the media, techniques for preparing for interviews, and tips on answering media questions in a way that translates into the soundbytes that all organizations need. Listen to the webinar for Todtfeld’s top takeaways on getting more interviews and feeling calm and comfortable with reporters from any medium.
How can your state use the Massachusetts model to expand civic education?
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Listen to the webinar for a discussion with Raj Vinnakota, President of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, on his white paper that is the culmination of a year-long research initiative to map out the civic education landscape, identify what’s in practice, and hopefully attract a broader funding base to support work that produces young people who are well-informed, productively engaged, and hopeful about our democracy.