State Policy Support for Citizenship Education

1. State Policy Support for Citizenship Education North Carolina Policy Summit on The Civic Mission of Schools December 4, 2003 Charles Coble Education Commission of the States

2. ECS and NCLC • ECS assists state policymakers to improve education policy in a variety of areas, including teaching quality, governance, accountability and others. • ECS, through the National Center for Learning and Citizenship, helps education leaders and policymakers hold citizenship education as a priority.

3. Key Transition Points Reading by grade 3 Ready to start school Algebra by grade 8 Core curriculum by grade 11 Well-educated citizen by grade 14 Lifelong learning Provide state assistance Finance Convene state education leaders Collect and disseminate information Leadership Develop policy implementation tools Create policy options and models Governance Frame emerging issues Accountability Teaching Quality S t r a t e g i e s Citizenship P O L I C Y The ECS Cube

4. Every Student A Citizen:Creating the Democratic Self • Young people must recognize and acknowledge their self-interest in public deliberation and decision-making. • Young people must see themselves as members of a public—a community.

5. Every Student A Citizen Recommendations for ECS Assist state and local policymakers to: • Assess the state of citizenship education in their schools • Develop policies and plans for improving creation of “the democratic self” among students • Become part of the national campaign to implement the recommendations of the National Study Group.

6. Every Student A Citizen Suggested Activities for ECS • Dissemination and communications • Networking • Demonstration project • Research and policy review

7. PJG State Options Thinkers Meeting: Standards overview and approaches PJG PJG PJG NCLC Current Work Policy scan State Demos District surveys High school case studies

8. Methodology of thePolicy Scan • Westlaw searches of state statutes and code • State Web site searches • Request for verification by state service-learning coordinators (prior to Web site posting) • Request for verification by state social studies consultants (pending)

9. Results of the 50-State Citizenship Education Policy Scan • 35states provide for the teaching of civics through statute • 39states and DC have a civics or government course or credit graduation requirement • 8states currently require exit exams that include social studies items, while 4 more states will phase in such requirements in the next several years.

10. Results of the 50-State Citizenship Education Policy Scan • 2states (IA & RI) do not have statewide civics standards • 20states include social studies content on state assessments. (NC includes US history) • 11states link state assessments to state social studies standards • 12states include social studies assessments in the state accountability system.

11. Yes (35 states) No (15 states) Which states provide for the teaching of civics or government through statute?

12. Yes (39 states and DC) No (11 states) Which states have a government/civics course or credit graduation requirement?

13. Yes (8 states) No (38 states and DC) Will phase in exams over the next several years (4 states) Which states require a social studies, U.S. government or U.S. history exit exam?

14. No (2 states) Which states have civics standards? Yes (48 states and DC)

15. Yes (20 states) No (30 states and DC) Which states include social studies content on their state assessments?

16. Yes (11 states) No (39 states and DC) Which states link their state assessments to their social studies standards ?

17. Yes (12 states) No (38 states and DC) Which states include social studies assessments as part of their accountability systems?

18. Policy Scan & Case Studies:Preliminary Findings • While district, state and federal policy do not prohibit citizenship education, the increasing emphasis on math and literacy is seen by many educators as a barrier.

19. Policy Scan & Case Studies:Preliminary Findings • State accountability systems drive education, but only 12 states currently hold schools accountable for student achievement in the social studies.

20. Policy Scan & Case Studies:Preliminary Findings • State policies emphasize civic knowledge, while civic skills and dispositions are supported at the district and building level through programs like Kids Voting and We The People, and through the efforts of individual teachers.

21. Policy Scan & Case Studies:Preliminary Findings • Schools support and define citizenship education in different ways—service-learning, character education, democratic learning communities, civics, etc.

22. Necessary District-Level Supports • Leadership • Professional development • Teacher buy-in • Community involvement • Time.

23. Necessary State-Level Supports • Leadership from state board, state superintendent, legislature, state education agency, etc. (Public acknowledgement that citizenship education is important) • Opportunities for networking & peer-based professional development • Support for and coordination of programs that encourage civic participation, such as Kids Voting, We The People, etc.

24. NCLC Resources • NCLC website: www.ecs.org/nclc • Citizenship Matters electronic newsletter • Policy database • Policy/Issue briefs • StateNotes

30. Citizenship Education:Four Possible Approaches for States • Course-based approach • Social studies standards-based approach • Cross-curricular standards-based approach • Community-connected approach.

31. From Good Ideas to Effective State Policy Facilitated Meetings Evaluate Student Impact In-State Learning Labs Track State Implementation Create Plan For Moving State Agenda NCLC Meetings District & School Implementation Enroll Other State Leaders Track Agenda Adoption Network with Like-minded Leaders Consortia Policy Agenda Tracking System Create Specific State Agenda ECS Policy Agenda Data System Begin In-state Discussions Publications & Website New Ideas & Issues

32. ECS National Center for Learning and Citizenship www.ecs.org/nclc