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Civics for All Endorsement Letters

Pramila Jayapal

Washington State Senator, 37th Legislative District, Committees: Natural Resources & Parks, Transportation, Healthcare

Steve Bergquist

State Representative, 11th Legislative District, Deputy Floor Leader, State Government Vice Chair – Education, Higher Education, Transportation

Kim Wyman

Secretary of State, Washington State

Margit E. McGuire, PhD

Professor and Director of Masters in Teaching Program, College of Education, Seattle University; former President of the National Council of Social Studies

Rick Nagel

Franklin High School Social Studies teacher, 1966-2002; Founder, FHS Law and Society program; Coach, FHS Mock Trial Team, National Champions (2000), State Champions (1990-1992, 1997-2002)

Tim Ames

MA, Social Studies Dept. Chair, Nathan Hale High School

Marlin Appelwick & Judith Billings

Council for Public Legal Education (CPLE) Co-Chairs

Rep. Jessyn Farrell

46th District, WA St. Legislature

Sherril Huff

Director, King County Elections

Peter Levine

Executive Director, CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement – at Tufts U.); CIRCLE is the preeminent civics education research organization in the U.S.

Larry Phillips

(D), Metropolitan King County Council District 4, Council Chair

George L. Schueppert

President, Great Books Foundation (ret. 2014)

King County Council

A MOTION in support of the Civics for All Initiative

The Civics for All Initiative

Common K-12 Curricular Structures, Frameworks, and Traditions:

Annual Mock Elections each November, K-12
One New K-12 Civics/Elections unit in each year's social studies classes; depending on teacher preference and student interest, units would be 3 - 10 class periods each autumn
Two K-12 Civics Frameworks Banners:
1. Essential Civics for All Questions – posted in every K-12 classroom
2. Political Spectrum – posted in all gr: 6-12 social studies classrooms
K-12 Media Literacy – especially related to electoral politics and current events
Civics Website – updated reg. with shared curriculum, elections lesson plan ideas, current events lessons, links, etc.
Community Engagement:
1. Voter Registration/Participation Drives – K-12 students, classes, and schools can compete to see who can register the most new voters in their communities and/or get already registered voters (including parents) to actually vote.
2. Parent/Guardian Engagement – students are given homework assignments to discuss the mock elections issues and races with their parents/guardians.
Interdisciplinary Civics (optional) – K-12 teachers in non-social studies disciplines are encouraged to relate their classwork to the mock elections (e.g. math classes could help students understand taxation formulas, science could help students understand environmental initiatives, etc.)
School Culture of Democracy (optional) – principals, teachers, and schools can make the mock election process a celebration of democracy and community engagement to whatever extent desired via ASB involvement, parent and community involvement (election officials), etc.
The Civics for All Initiative Budget:
1. One-time, foundational expenses - $ 280,000
2. Ongoing, annual expenses - $ 56,500

Civics for All in News

Raising a voter: Tips for talking to your kids about politics and the election

Posted on Seattle Child’s

Web Hutchins • December 7, 2018 • 0 Comments

Mock Elections at Ballard

Mock Elections at Ballard High School Engage Students in Civic Participation

Web Hutchins • November 9, 2018 • 0 Comments

Education Week: “Make Mock Elections Mandatory”

Voter turnout is in crisis; better civics training in school can help

Web Hutchins • November 9, 2017 • 0 Comments

Effort to boost our civics IQ is sorely needed

Students in Washington state get too little instruction on basic civics, from constitutional rights to how government functions.

Web Hutchins • May 6, 2016 • 0 Comments