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Reports
Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools Report
September 2011
The much anticipated follow up to the 2003 Civic Mission of Schools' Report. The report is an urgent call for action to restore the historic civic mission of our nation's schools. This new report provides research-based evidence of the decline in civic learning in American schools and presents six proven practices that should be at the heart of every school's approach to civic learning. It also provides recommendations for education policymakers to ensure every student acquires the civic skills and knowledge needed for an informed, engaged citizenry.
View the full report: Guardian of Democracy Report (PDF, 10 MB). The report is also available on the Campaign's website www.civicmissionofschools.org.
Advancing Civic Learning and Engagement in Democracy: A Road Map and Call to Action
January 2012
In this report, the US Department of Education outlines directions for advancing civic learning and democratic engagement from grade school to graduate school. It concludes by proposing nine steps the Department will take to advance civic learning across American education.
View the full report: Advancing Civic Learning (PDF, 747KB).
Flunking Civics: Why America’s Kids Know So Little
May 2011
May ABA Journal
The American Bar Association publication the "ABA Journal" featured civic education in its May 2011 Issue. This is the lead article from that publication.
View the full report: ABA Journal on Civic Learning May 2011 (PDF, 390 KB)
High Schools, Civics, and Citizenship: What Social Studies Teachers Think and Do
September 2010
American Enterprise Institute, September 2010.
This study revolves around the question: what are teachers trying to teach our youth about citizenship and what it means to be an American? The findings are based on a national, random sample survey of 866 public high school social studies teachers, an oversample survey of 245 Catholic and private high school social studies teachers, and three focus groups.
View the full report (PDF, 460 KB)
Nation's Report Card on Civics
May 2010
For the third NAEP Civics Report in a row, (1998, 2006, 2010) the results are very disappointing and are a wakeup call that we are failing to impart the civic knowledge, skills and disposition critical to being an informed and engaged citizen. The data revealed that only 27 percent of fourth-graders, 22 percent of eighth-graders and 24 percent of twelfth-graders scored proficient or higher in civics – meaning that millions of young Americans will be unprepared to be the informed and engaged citizens a healthy democracy requires.
View the full report: The Civics 2010 Report Card (PDF, 3.4 MB)
Civic Skills and Federal Policy
April 2010
On April 29, 2010, scholars, civic leaders, and federal officials met in Washington to develop a federal policy agenda for civic skills. The conference was convened by CIRCLE at Tufts University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service. It was co-sponsored by the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools and Strengthening Our Nation's Democracy (SOND).
View the full report: Civic Skills and Federal Policy (PDF, 375 KB)
No Excuses: Schools and Districts that Make Preparing Students for Citizenship a Priority, and How Others Can Do It, Too
January 2010
This report contains the findings of a special task force which examined civic learning in eleven schools and districts that offer exemplary civic learning for all students. The report contains lessons learned from each school and district, showing that high quality civic learning is not only possible but replicable and scalable in every school and district across the nation.
View the full report: Final CMS No Excuses Report (PDF, 12 MB)
Paths to 21st Century Competencies through Civic Education Classrooms: An Analysis of Survey Results from Ninth Grade Classes
October 2009
by Dr. Judith Torney-Purta (University of Maryland) with Dr. Britt Wilkenfeld.
This study that shows how effective civic education builds the 21st Century Skills important to a student's success in College, Career and Citizenship. The results of the study show that those students who receive quality civic learning experiences showed the highest scores on demonstrating 21st Century Competencies.
View the full report (PDF, 8.25 MB)
The Status of Civic Education in Michigan
April 2006
Michigan Center for Civic Education for the Michigan Coalition on Civic Education
Through funding from the Carnegie Corporation, the Michigan Center for Civic Education established a Michigan Coalition on Civic Education to conduct the Michigan Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. The Coalition engaged Public Sector Consultants Inc. to conduct a Web-based survey of Michigan schools to draw a baseline from which progress in civic education in Michigan could be determined.
View the full report: Civic Education in Michigan (PDF, 130 KB)
Citizenship Education Policy Brief
2006
Education Commission on the States
This policy brief reviews current data and recent state action in support of citizenship education. It highlights eight states' standards which go beyond the teaching of knowledge and extend to skills and dispositions, analyzes common characteristics of state standards and concludes with questions for policymakers.
View the full report: ECS Citizenship Education Policy Brief (PDF)
News & Events
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02 May, 2012 | East Grand Rapids students take honors at We the People competition near Washington, D.C. …more
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25 April, 2012 | Register Now for 2012 MGTV Mock Election …more
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24 April, 2012 | Michigan Center for Civic Education Launches Civility and Free Expression Dialogue …more
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24 April, 2012 | Summer Programs at the Michigan Supreme Court Learning Center …more
Programs
Our programs depend on the willingness of lawyers, judges, police officers, elected officials, school administrators and parents to be successful. Volunteers are needed to work with teachers in the classroom, to judge competitions, and to share their expertise in training opportunities and the development of materials.
You are needed and welcome!
View Programs
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MCCE’s Resources, Programs, & Lessons
Educating for Citizenship
Educating for Citizenship is a conference for educators and community members that highlights best practices in law-related and civic education in Michigan and nationally.
Civic Education Teacher of the Year Award
Mock Trial
A Mock Trial is designed to reenact much of what might take place in a trial court. Students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses and compete against each other in real courtrooms in front of real judges and lawyers.
"[A] unique opportunity for young people to learn about the legal system..."
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