What's New in Civic Education and Youth Civic Engagement Work .... (September 2004 Archive Section)

• September 29, 2004

• The Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development (ALO), in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has issued this RFA for a special project to conduct quantitative research and analysis related to USAID's democracy and governance programs. There will be one 10-month award of up to $300,000.

  The aim of the project is to enhance the state of the art of democracy and governance assistance and provide new data and insights to academics, democracy implementers, and donors. It is anticipated that this research and analysis will help USAID determine whether, how and under what circumstances there is a relationship between democracy programs and various aspects of political change in targeted countries, and provide data useful for subsequent in-depth country and activity-level comparisons that will follow. The research should provide the foundation for a sustainable data set on USAID and other donor democracy and governance programming and quantitative country measures related to development. For more information contact wagnera@aascu.org or go to: http://www.aascu.org/alo.
  

  September 28, 2004

• Service-Learning Advances announces the following events and conferences: http://www.service-learningpartnership.org

  - National Service-Learning Conference "Educating for Change" March 17-19, 2005. Proposals due 9/30/04

  - Atlantic Region Service-Learning Conference Oct 28-29, 2004. Registration deadline - Oct 1, 2004 (after Oct. 1, on-site registration fees apply) Hotel registration at the conference rate by September 27, 2004

  - National Society for Experiential Learning and International Consortium for Experiential Learning Joint Conference 2004. Miami, FL, September 29 - October 2, 2004
  "Experiential Learning: Sustaining Global Partnerships in a Changing World"

  - Character Education Partnership's 11th National Forum, Houston, TX, October 21-23, 2004 "Exploring Pathways to Civic Character"

  - International Conference on Service-Learning Research, Greenville, SC, October 10-12, 2004
  "Theory to Practice: Advancing Research to Improve Service-Learning Outcomes"

  - Atlantic Region Service-Learning Conference, Philadelphia, PA, October 28-29, 2004.

  For more information on events and conferences go to: http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/publications/sla_events.cfm
  

  September 27, 2004

• The following items on youth voting have been added to The Pew Charitable Trust's website. If you are interested in receiving regular email alerts from Pew go to: . http://www.pewtrusts.com

  - Group Pushes for Young Voters. Corvallis Gazette-Times, September 7, 2004.
  
  - Local Voter Registration Surging. Official Says. Daily Iowan, September 8, 2004.

  - Younger Voters Poised To Participate. Hartford Courant, September 8, 2004
  

  September 23, 2004

• All undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit papers for the thirteenth annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science. Papers on any topic related to government and/or politics are welcome. Panelists at last year's conference included 60 students attending 24 colleges and universities. The best three undergraduate and graduate student papers will be awarded a cash prize. In addition, exceptional papers will be considered for publication in the Spring 2005 issue of the electronic journal, Critique: an online student journal of politic. Registration for the conference and luncheon is free.

  Complete the online proposal submission form or submit a cover letter, containing your contact information (including email address), your school, and the name of the faculty member with whom you are working, and a draft copy of your paper (or the actual paper) by February 10, 2005. For more information go to the Conference website at: http://www.politicsandgovernment.ilstu.edu/conference/. The online submission form::
  http://www.politicsandgovernment.ilstu.edu/conference/submission.htm.
  

  September 22, 2004

• The Association of American Colleges and Universities Center for Liberal Education and Civic Engagement will host an interactive Webcast, "Journey Towards Democracy: Involving Students in the Political Process," from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. EST on September 29, 2004. The Webcast will focus on patterns of student political participation, student-driven political organizing, and new technologies that engage students with political issues. Students, faculty, and administrators can register to participate in the discussion for free online. For more information go to: http://www.aacu-edu.org/civic_engagement/webcast.cfm.

  September 21, 2004

• The University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs is now accepting applications for the Miller Center Fellowships in Contemporary History, Public Policy, and American Politics. The fellowships provide a stipend of $18,000 to Ph.D. candidates and independent scholars to support one year of research and writing. The work should focus on important public policy questions relating to twentieth century politics and governance in the United States.

  Each fellow is matched with an academic mentor who serves as a guide to the literature of the field, offers advice on methodology, and critiques the fellow's work. Residence of fellows is encouraged but is not required. Fellows are expected to participate in a conference in the spring of the academic year to present their research and findings to scholars from the University of Virginia and other conference attendees. Applications must be postmarked by February 1st, 2005. For an Application, program materials or more information call (434) 924-4694 or go to: http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/pubs/misc_docs/fellowship_application.pdf
  

  September 20, 2004

• Civic Education: Preschool through College. "Why is it important to approach civic education as a continuum from preschool through college? When the ECS National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) and Campus Compact considered what civic education might mean across the P-12 and higher education spectrum, a "statement of shared responsibility" was crafted that expressed the conviction that a student's civic growth was fundamental to the educational enterprise in America. Aware that a historical divide exists between K-12 and higher education systems, it was essential to acknowledge that divide and then explore both why it needed to be bridged and how to bridge it. The continuum of learning about how we, the people, are responsible for almost every aspect of American life in a democratic nation provides one opportunity to begin bridging that divide…" By Elizabeth Hollander, August 2004 Citizenship Matters.

  September 17, 2004

• Teaching Civics: A Call to Action. "Because the national education agenda is focused on standards, testing, and accountability, schools are at risk of narrowly defining their mission as improving test scores. In this environment, it is easy to forget that public education serves a larger civic mission. Preserving and promoting a democratic society was the founding precept of our public education system. If educators are to continue to preserve democracy, this mission must remain central to their efforts…" by Sheldon H. Berman, Principal Leadership, Sept. 2004, Vol. 5, No. 1.

  September 16, 2004

• The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools has announced a call for good examples of civic learning practices, programs, materials. The primary goal of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools is to improve and increase civic learning in our schools, grades K-12. As part of this effort, the Campaign will show-case examples of high-quality K-12 civic learning practices and resources. You can do two things to help in this effort: nominate and submit example(s) from your work; and, publicize this opportunity to others in your professional network. They particularly want examples that align with the approaches recommended by the Carnegie Corporation-CIRCLE Civic Mission of Schools report, including:
  
  - Instruction in government, history, law and democracy
  - Class discussion of current local, national, and international issues and events
  - Community service and service-learning linked to curriculum and class instruction
  - Extracurricular opportunities to get involved in the school and community
  - Participation in school governance
  - Simulations of democratic practices and procedures.
  
  A wide range of submissions is welcomed, including examples at the local, pilot, and national level. An advisory group will review the submissions and select examples that will be assembled into an inventory, hosted on the Campaign website and promoted through Campaign media. The online inventory is designed primarily to inform policymakers and practitioners what actual civic education can and does look like in real schools, but the public will have access as well.

  To submit an example of high-quality civic education, please complete the form at http://www.civicmissionofschools.org/submissions.html or contact submissions@civicmissionofschools.org.
  

• The Constitutional Rights Foundation has announced the Fall 2004 launch of a new web site, "Youth News, Views, and Action" that offers methods, information, and Internet resources for young people to:

  - Explore the world, the nation, and their community.
  - Express their ideas and opinions about vital issues.
  - Deal with important school and community problems.
  - Join a Youth News, Views, and Action News Team.

  Visit Youth News, Views, and Action at http://www.crf-usa.org/youthsite/youth_home.htm or go to the CRF web site at http://www.crf-usa.org and click on "CRF Youth Site."
  

  September 15, 2004

• The Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development (ALO), in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is issuing this RFA for a special project to conduct quantitative research and analysis related to USAID's democracy and governance programs. There will be one 10-month award of up to $300,000.

  The aim of the project is to enhance the state of the art of democracy and governance assistance and provide new data and insights to academics, democracy implementers, and donors. It is anticipated that this research and analysis will help USAID determine whether, how and under what circumstances there is a relationship between democracy programs and various aspects of political change in targeted countries, and provide data useful for subsequent in-depth country and activity-level comparisons that will follow. The research should provide the foundation for a sustainable data set on USAID and other donor democracy and governance programming and quantitative country measures related to development. For more information contact wagnera@aascu.org or go to: http://www.aascu.org/alo.
  

  September 14, 2004

• Reminder: The American Political Science Association invites political scientists and graduate students to participate in the second annual Conference on Teaching and Learning in Political Science. This year's meeting will take place in Washington, D.C., on February 19-21, 2005. APSA hopes to continue the significant progress made at its pilot conference in promoting greater understanding of cutting-edge approaches, techniques, and methodologies that can be applied in the political science classroom. This meeting will provide a forum to develop models on teaching and learning as well as to discuss broad themes and values affecting political science education.

  The deadline to submit a proposal to present is September 22, 2004. Advance registration will close on September 22, 2004. All individuals who submit a proposal will be eligible for the lower advance-registration fee regardless of whether they register before or after September 22. For more information, please contact teaching@apsanet.org or visit the Teaching and Learning Conference webpage at http://www.apsanet.org/tlc. To register for the meeting or submit a proposal, go to the Teaching and Learning Conference webpage at http://www.apsanet.org/tlc.
  

  September 10, 2004

• The National Service-Learning Partnership announces:
  
  - More Than 90 Organizations Pledge Support for Service-Learning Funding. Earlier this month, more than 90 national, state, and local organizations pledged their support for increased appropriations for Learn and Serve America. This unprecedented show of public support was in response to the July 22 decision of the House Appropriations Committee to recommend a $3 million cut to Learn and Serve America's budget. If passed, this recommendation would reduce the only pool of federal funding solely dedicated to service-learning from $43 million to $40 million for fiscal year 2005.

  The full U.S. House of Representatives must now vote on the measure. Analysts believe this will take place in September, after Congress returns from its month-long recess. The Senate will begin debating its version of the spending bill when senators return to Washington in September. History shows that Senate appropriators tend to invest more in national service and service-learning practitioners than their House colleagues (often because they have access to a larger pool of resources than House Appropriators). But given the extremely tough fiscal climate and a shrinking pool of limited resources, even service-learning's most ardent supporters in the Senate may have a hard time coming through for Learn and Serve America this year. For more information go to: http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/publications/sla_advocacy.cfm#1.

  
  - Join National Service Advocates for Capitol Hill Day on September 14, 2004. The Save AmeriCorps Coalition invites you to participate in a National Service Hill Day in Washington, D.C. on September 14, 2004. Proponents of national service -- program staff, service partners, private sector supporters and alumni -- will gather in Washington, DC on September 14th to meet with Members of Congress and their staff to discuss the benefits and importance of strong national service in the United States. This is a critical juncture for national service programs as Congress prepares to set funding levels for Learn and Serve America, AmeriCorps, and Senior Corps. The fiscal year 2005 appropriations process is in full swing. The National Service Hill Day in September is an opportunity to share with Congress your support for national service and request its continued commitment to these federal programs. Congressional backing is needed to succeed in expanding and strengthening national service. More information and event registration is available on the Coalition's website at http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/publications/sla_advocacy.cfm#2.

  
  - The First National Campaign for Youth Advocacy Day. On September 15th, the Campaign for Youth, an initiative promoting public policy solutions for youth ages 16-24, will gather in Washington, DC. The day-long gathering will consist of a review of current youth-related policy issues, a pre-arranged visit to Capitol Hill, and a dialogue between youth and representatives of the Bush and Kerry campaigns around issues affecting young people. Visit the Campaign's website at http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/publications/sla_advocacy.cfm#3.
  

  September 9, 2004

• There is still time to involve fall semester classes in Democracy Lab forums at the Pennsylvania Center for Civic Life, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. For 10 weeks your students will be guided through a deliberative learning experience, led through deliberation to inquiry and to action by Democracy Lab faculty and student staff. Students spend two hours per week outside class working in small dialogue groups with students from other schools around the country. Dialogue takes place on asynchronous discussion boards available 24/7. The deliberative learning model uses student-to-student dialogue to exercise critical and empathic thinking and to foster civic engagement. For more information go to: http://www.teachingdemocracy.org and click on Democracy Lab soon as possible if you might be interested for the fall semester. Fall forums begin on September 13. Entry is feasible as late as September 27. Please contract James T Knauer, Director at jknauer@lhup.edu.

  September 8, 2004

• The latest online edition of Citizenship Matters from the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) at the Education Commission of the States (ECS) is now. This bimonthly newsletter focuses on ECS' work in improving citizenship education in our nation's schools. Among its contents are the following:
  
  - Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has signed Senate Bill 11, which establishes the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education. Its purpose includes educating students on the importance of citizen involvement in a representative democracy, and promoting communication and collaboration among organizations in the state that conduct civic education programs.
  
  - Jennifer Morales, member of the Milwaukee Board of Education, and Terry Pickeral, executive director of the ECS National Center for Learning and Citizenship, co-authored a guest viewpoint in the National School Boards Association's School Board News. They state that citizenship education should be a critical focus of the public schools.
  
  - The American Political Science Association's April 2004 edition of PSOnline includes a symposium on "The Politics of Civic Education," which contains articles on topics such as controversial issues in the classroom and how to engage politics in civic education.
  
  - The National Council for the Social Studies has developed an Advocacy Tool Kit focused on the theme "Today's Social Studies...Creating Effective Citizens." It provides resources and suggestions to build a public awareness campaign of the essential nature of quality social studies education.
  
  - "YMCA Civic Engagement Guide: Strategies and Tools for Increasing Civic Engagement" is a comprehensive resource to assist YMCA staff and volunteers and their community partners in promoting the development of Civic Engagement attitudes, skills and behaviors.
  

  - The Capitol Forum on America's Future, an experiential civic education initiative, gives high school students a voice in public consideration of current international issues. The program, run on a statewide basis in participating states, involves students both within the social studies classroom and beyond the classroom at their state capitol.
  
  

  September 7, 2004

• Life after YouthBuild: 900 Graduates Reflect on Their Lives, Dreams and Experiences. "Young people who grow up in low-income communities and leave high school without a diploma are often unemployed and may feel depressed about their future. Yet in a new study, Brandeis researchers revealed that unemployed, undereducated youth who completed YouthBuild - a youth and community development program - became optimistic about their future prospects and were doing well by many measures…" August 20, 2003, Brandeis University News.

  September 3, 2004

• Choices for the 21st Century Education Program and several other organizations involved in international education and youth civic engagement have teamed up with The People Speak to promote youth deliberation on the role of the United States in the world today. The People Speak Youth Circles is an invitation to America's youth to join in a national conversation on this topic. The People Speak is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations including the UN Foundation, ABC News, and the American Enterprise Institute.

  Curricular and organizing resources for The People Speak Youth Circles have been sent to selected teachers nationwide. Materials facilitate consideration of a wide range of views. Teachers or student groups who have not received a free copy and wish to participate are invited to contact The People Speak at 202-778-3534 or via email at info@thepeoplespeak.org.
  

  September 2, 2004

• The National Endowment for the Humanities supports projects to strengthen teaching and learning in history, literature, foreign languages and cultures and other areas of the humanities in United States K-12 and college classrooms. Grants for Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development support projects that improve specific areas of humanities education through the development of new or revised curricula or instructional and learning materials. Projects are intended to serve as national models of excellence in humanities education. They must draw upon scholarship in the humanities and use scholars and teachers as advisers. NEH is especially interested in projects that offer solutions to problems frequently encountered by teachers and college faculty members in a particular field of the humanities. The application deadline is October 1, 2004 and funding is up to $100,000 for curriculum development projects and up to $200,000 for materials development projects. For more information go to: http://www.neh.gov/grants/index.html.

  September 1, 2004

• The U.S. Election Assistance Commission's Help America Vote College Pollworker Recruitment Program is now available on Grants.gov, the federal clearinghouse for grant applications. They are trying to encourage any qualified applicants to apply for this grant. The deadline for receiving the grant application is September 9, 2004. Contact Adam Ambrogi or Karen Lynn-Dyson if you have any questions or concerns regarding this program. For the synopsis and grant materials go to: http://fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USEAC/HDQTRS/WDC/EAC-04-001/Grant.html.

  You can download the grant package materials directly from Grants.gov. Click on the link at the bottom of the Grants page, the "USEAC HDQTRS listed by [Posted Date] " Link and then click on the "Full Announcement 1" link. That contains each of the five application materials. The instructions are included in the Description section of the Request for Applications.