Information for Policymakers
Federal, state and local policies are the key to improving and expanding civic learning in our schools.
The Campaign has developed a number of resources for policymakers:
Federal Policies
At the national level, the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools advocates for improved civic learning policies by communicating with policymakers in Congress and the Administration, national media and opinion leaders, and the general public. Our message is about the importance of educating for democracy in our schools and how to best accomplish this goal. The Campaign seeks concrete policy improvements and increased funding for the states in areas relating to civic learning. We will update this section regularly.
Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools position statements and thought papers:
Statement on NAEP Civics Assessment & The New York Times Article on NAEP Results
Statement on Re-authorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act ‘No Child Left Behind’
The Sandra Day O’Connor Civic Learning Act of 2011
Position Paper on the Civic Case for Comprehensive School Reform
Thought Paper on Positive Youth Development
State Policies
At the state level, the Campaign works with advocates in each state to improve civic learning. To learn more about the current civic learning policies in each state as well as legislation (2003-present) that impacts civic learning and to follow civic learning policy actions in all states, the Campaign recommends the following two resources:
The National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) at the Education Commission of the States/ State Policies for Citizenship Education Database
From this database, you can generate profiles of the state policies for K-12 civic and service learning in individual states and create comparisons of specific types of civic learning state policies across several states.
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) / Civic Education State Legislation Database
This database captures state legislative efforts to address civic education-related issues and youth civic engagement. It includes brief summaries of the legislation, bill number, status and the bill sponsor. Users can search the database by year, state, bill status and keyword.
To obtain the full text of legislation, go to NCSL's State Legislatures Internet Links and search the sites of the legislatures where bills have been introduced.
The various sections under "Policymakers" will take you to a variety of useful resources that will help all policymakers in restoring the civic mission of our schools.
