The Governing Board recognizes that citizen involvement in civic and political institutions is essential to a democratic government and desires to provide a comprehensive civic education program to help students acquire the knowledge, skills, and principles essential for informed, responsible citizenship.
The Board shall approve, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent/Principal or designee, academic standards and curriculum in civics and government that are aligned with state academic standards and curriculum frameworks.
(cf. 6000 - Concepts and Roles)
(cf. 6011 - Academic Standards)
(cf. 6141 - Curriculum Development and Evaluation)
(cf. 9000 - Role of the Board)
The Superintendent/Principal or designee shall determine specific courses within the K-6 curriculum in which civic education and government may be explicitly and systematically taught. He/she also shall encourage the integration of civic education into other subjects as appropriate.
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
(cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)
The district's civic education program shall provide students with an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizens in American democracy and the workings of federal, state, and local governments. As appropriate, instruction should include an examination of fundamental American documents, including, but not limited to, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and other significant writings and speeches.
To develop a sense of political effectiveness, instruction should develop students' understanding of the importance of civic participation in a democratic society. Service learning, extracurricular and cocurricular activities, class and school elections, and observation of local government processes may be used to reinforce classroom instruction by linking civic knowledge to practical experience and encouraging civic involvement.
(cf. 1400 - Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies and the Schools)
(cf. 6142.4 - Learning Through Community Service)
(cf. 6145 - Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities)
Instruction also should promote a student's understanding of shared democratic principles and values, such as personal responsibility, justice, equality, respect for others, civic-mindedness, and patriotism, and enable students to make their own commitment to these civic values.
Constitution/Citizenship Day
Each year on or near September 17, in commemoration of Constitution and Citizenship Day, the district shall hold an educational program for students in grades K-6 pertaining to the United States Constitution which shall include exercises and instruction in the purpose, meaning, and importance of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. (Education Code 37221; P.L. 108-447, Sec. 111)
(cf. 6115 - Ceremonies and Observances)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
233.5 Teaching of principles
33540 Standards for government and civics instruction
37221 Commemorative exercises including anniversary of U.S. Constitution
48205 Absence from school for jury duty or precinct board service
51210 Courses of study, grades 1-6
51220 Courses of study, grades 7-12
ELECTIONS CODE
12302 Precinct boards, appointment of students
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
6711-6716 Education for Democracy Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 36
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
School Board Leadership: The Role and Function of California's School Boards, 1996
FEDERAL REGISTER
77 Fed. Reg. 29727 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS
Essentials of Law-Related Education, rev. 2003
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
History-Social Science Content Standards
CENTER FOR CIVIC EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Education for Democracy: California Civic Education Scope & Sequence, 2003
National Standards for Civics and Government, 1994
NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP) PUBLICATIONS
1998 Civics Report Card for the Nation, November 18, 1999
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
American Bar Association, Law-Related Education Projects: http://www.abanet.org/publiced/lre
American Political Science Association: http://www.apsanet.org
Bill of Rights Institute: http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org
California Association of Student Leaders: http://www.casl1.org
California Council for the Social Studies: http://www.ccss.org
Center for California Studies: http://www.csus.edu/calst
Center for Civic Education: http://www.civiced.org
Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement: http://www.civicyouth.org
Center for Youth Citizenship: http://www.youthcitizenship.org
Constitutional Rights Foundation: http://www.crf-usa.org
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Civics Assessment:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/civics
National Council for the Social Studies: http://www.ncss.org
Policy TWO ROCK UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: October 12, 2006 Petaluma, California