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Conference: Civics for All Initiative – Transforming Parlor Talk into Policy

Web Hutchins • November 17, 2012

National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS – socialstudies.org)

Civics for All Initiative: Transforming Parlor Talk into Policy

Session includes: Inspiring video of student legislative activism; lesson on Chief Seattle; review of Civics for All’s pedagogical frameworks and proposal to teach K-12 “civics across the curriculum” in Seattle’s schools.

Time: Sat, 11/17/2012 – 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Presenters: Web Hutchins, Civics for All Initiative, South Lake High School, Seattle, WA; Margit McGuire, Seattle University, Seattle, WA

Filed in: News

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