Educating for 21st Century Democracy: State of the State Report: Part I The Local Picture

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Educating for 21st Century Democracy State of
the State Report Part IThe Local Picture

• Jill K. Conrad
• Director, CMS Campaign

2
Research Points to 6 Promising Approaches to
Improve Civic Education

• Formal instruction in govt, history, law, and
  democracy
• Discussion of current issues and events
• Opportunities to apply what learned through
  service-learning

• 4. Extracurricular activities that allow
  involvement
• 5. Student voice and participation in school
  governance
• 6. Participation in simulations of democratic
  processes and procedures

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All Civic Competencies are Important(knowledge,
skills, dispositions)

• Developmentally appropriate learning
  opportunities beginning in early grades and
  continuing at each grade level best for optimal
  learning of civic competencies
• Focus on ALL 3 strands of civic competencies (k,
  s, d) best

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CO CampaignOverarching Question

• What would need to happen to ensure that all CO
  students receive an adequate amount
  (access/quantity) to high quality civic learning
  opportunities (quality) throughout their K-12
  education?

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What is happening in Colorado?

• A 2003-2005 Colorado Study w/CASB
• revealed a civic learning opportunity gap where
  as many as 50 of students may lack access to
  social studies instruction in the elementary, and
  in some cases, middle school grades.
• Most civic learning in CO is concentrated in high
  school.too little, too late
• Have our schools lost sight of their civic
  mission?

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Opportunities Some Things May Make a Difference
in CO Schools

• 2005 study suggests that some things may make a
  difference
• Constellation of policies Intentional district
  policy with multiple reinforcements of importance
  of civic learning
• Effective delivery system design Quality
  curriculum design WITH clear program of
  instruction, K-12
• Clear expectations Principals, teachers,
  students, and parents perceive civic learning as
  a priority
• Capacity and resources High quality professional
  development, curriculum development,
  instructional materials, etc.

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2006 Survey of Colorado Superintendents School
Boards

• Agreement on Civic Mission Vast majority (approx
  70) view the civic mission as an integral part
  of the academic mission of education, equally
  important as workforce college prep
• BUTIs Civic Mission in the Mission? Over 60
  said NO
• Are We Meeting the Civic Mission? 50 said
  somewhat successful 20 said successful or
  highly successful 10 said unsuccessful
• Supports? The Good News more than half said
  theyd had some opportunity for curriculum
  development or professional development in social
  studies or civics within the last 1-3 years
  (including a review of standards)

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2006 Survey of Colorado Superintendents School
Boards

• 21st Century Civics Needs 21st Century
  Strategies Vast majority (approx 70) agrees
  with this statement 20 strongly agrees
• 6 Promising Practices All districts have some,
  mostly in high school (but not necessarily for
  all students). Top Requests for Help
• 1 (Instruction) 43 of Supts 83 of School
  Boards
• 2 (Discussion) 53 of Supts 50 of School
  Boards
• 6 (Simulations) 50 of Supts 40 of School
  Boards
• 5 (Student Governance) 33 of Supts 50 of
  School Boards
• 3 (Service-Learning) 37 of Supts 40 of School
  Boards
• Priority Level? High Priority (6 of Supts 25
  of School Boards) Growing priority (47 of
  Supts 25 of School Boards) Somewhat (31 of
  Supts 37 of School Boards) Low Priority (16
  of Supts 12 of School Boards)

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2006 Survey of Colorado Superintendents School
Boards

• Barriers to Making Civic Learning More of a
  Priority
• Other Priorities (45)
• CSAP Testing (32 Supts 57 School Boards)
• Lack of Resources (43 Supts 43 School Boards)
• Political/partisan concerns (43 School Boards)
• Lack of knowledge of effective civic learning
  strategies (37 Supts)

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2006 Survey of Colorado Superintendents School
Boards

• Local Strategies to Help Districts Meet Their
  Civic Mission
• School Board Members said
• More community support for this as a goal (71)
  and more community partnerships to help (57),
• More resources to support social studies (57),
• Support to develop whole schools focused on civic
  mission
• Superintendents said
• More curriculum development (57)
• More rigor in high school graduation requirement
  for civics (50)
• more incentives to motivate schools to improve
  civic mission through school improvement process
  (46)
• more resources to fully implement social studies
  (43)
• Both also wanted to see more recognition for
  quality civic learning outcomes

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2006 Survey of Colorado Superintendents School
Boards

• Top State Strategies that Would Help Districts
  Meet Their Civic Mission
• School Board Members said
• More state support to implement social studies
  standards (71)
• More positive recognition of schools or districts
  that address their civic mission (71)
• Stronger emphasis on civic mission in
  accreditation process (57)
• More incentives and supports for schools and
  districts to build civic mission into district
  improvement plans (43)
• Superintendents said
• More resources (46)
• More incentives for civic mission schools (40)
• More recognition for civic mission schools (39)
• Better links between high school civics voter
  registration (36)
• Opportunity to review and update civics standards
  (36)
• A stronger emphasis on teachers roles in
  educating for democracy (teacher prep and
  certification) (32)

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2006 Survey of Colorado Superintendents School
Boards

• Other State Strategies that Would Help
  Districts Meet Their Civic Mission
• School Board Members said
• Access to instructional materials (70)
• More support to integrate civic learning into
  other content areas (57)
• More professional development for teachers (43)
• Superintendents said
• More professional development (50)
• More support to integrate civic learning into
  other content areas (50)
• Better links b/w civics literacy instruction
  (36)
• Better access to instructional resources online
  (43)
• More recognition for quality practice in civic
  learning (39)

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ECS Policy Checklist for States School
Districts

• Standards Accountability
• Curriculum Instruction
• Professional Development
• Resources/Funding
• Partnerships
• Shared Vision Culture

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Reactor Panel A Conversation with Local Leaders

• Dr. John Hefty, Moderator
• Panelists
• Dr. Monte Moses, Superintendent, Cherry Creek
  School District
• Dr. Cindy Stevenson, Superintendent, Jefferson
  County Public Schools
• Theresa Pena, DPS School Board President
• Peggy Altoff, President, National Council for the
  Social Studies ( CO Springs D-11)
• Suzanne de Lemos, Teacher, Adams 12
• Jim Spehar, President, CO Municipal League

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Educating for 21st Century Democracy

• What is the responsibility of local leaders
  (education, municipal, community) prepare all
  youth to shape the civic future of Colorado
  communities?