NCoC: Civic Learning

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Civic Learning

NCoC believes the foundation for an engaged, informed, giving, and trusting citizenry is fostered through meaningful civic education and learning programs. These programs help instill the values of democracy, develop soft skills and core competencies, and prepare students for a 21st Century workforce.

NCoC believes to address community issues and challenges in any area, research must be collected, discussion must occur, and solutions must be proposed. Here, you can see research, discussion, and solutions associated with civic learning. This is meant to help explain and animate that focus area, as well as facilitate the process of moving from information to action within it.

Civic Learning Issues:Research | Discussions | Solutions

Civic Learning Research

Title	Date	Type
A Crucible Moment: College Learning & Democracy’s FutureA Call to Action and Report from The National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic EngagementThis report from the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement calls on the nation to reclaim higher education’s civic mission. Commissioned by the Department of Education and ...	January 11, 2012	publication
Strengthening the civic mission of charter schoolsA report of the AEI Program on American CitizenshipIn a new American Enterprise Institute (AEI) report, authors Robin Lake and Cheryl Miller offer an in-depth look at how top charter schools have implemented innovative civic education curricula.	January 9, 2012	publication
Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of SchoolsThe report builds and expands on the findings of the 2003 Civic Mission of Schools report, published by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning ...	September 15, 2011	publication
What So Proudly We HailWhat Does it Mean to be American? “What So Proudly We Hail,” a new anthology, explores the meaning of being an American. Though a book and the the help of stories, speeches, and songs, the initiative seeks to educate hearts ...	July 7, 2011	publication
From Command to CommunityLeadership is changing. Leadership education needs to change with it.In this collection of innovative and diverse essays, editors Nicholas V. Longo and Cynthia M. Gibson present a new definition of leadership education. Moving away from the top-down notion of leadership, ...	April 15, 2011	press release
Hands-On Civic Education Will Result in Increased Civic ParticipationIllinois Civic Health Index 2010	December 2, 2010	civic health index
The Road AheadChicago Civic Health Index 2010	December 2, 2010	civic health index
Executive SummaryOklahoma Civic Health Index 2010	December 2, 2010	civic health index
Role of EducationOklahoma Civic Health Index 2010	December 2, 2010	civic health index
Report finds significant decline in number of “Dropout Factories”A report by America’s Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises and Johns Hopkins University’s Everyone Graduates Center provides some of the first positive signs that America is making progress ...	November 30, 2010	publication

Civic Learning Discussions and Commentary

Title	Date	Type
Paul Loeb Explores the Soul of a CitizenWith over 135,000 copies in print, Paul Loeb’s Soul of a Citizen has become a classic handbook for budding social activists, veteran organizers, and anyone who wants to make a difference—large ...	May 7, 2012
Civic Literacy - A Critical 21st Century SkillGuest post by Barbara Stein, Partnership for 21st Century SkillsThe morning of the 67th Annual Conference, NCoC offered guests the opportunity to network and participate in small group discussions with leaders in the field of civic engagement. This post by Barbara ...	October 19, 2012
Education/Participation Gaps: A Case Studyby Abby Kiesa, CIRCLEEducational achievement has long been credited as the biggest predictor of whether or not a young person will be civically engaged. The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement ...	February 23, 2010	discussion
Target 2020: My Education. Our Future.by Decker Ngongang, Mobilize.orgMobilize.org believes the Millennial Generation should play an active role in the future of education in our country and that one of the single most important factors in reversing generational poverty ...	August 24, 2010	discussion
Closing the College Completion GapA Guide for Faith CommunitiesA degree beyond high school has become an essential element of opportunity in America and is a proven pathway out of poverty. However, the majority of our nation's young people, especially low-income ...	November 1, 2010	discussion
Fiscal Literacy 101The Future of Economics EducationBeyond a cursory introduction to programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid in U.S. History, how many of us can say we cemented a basic understanding of our country’s economic policy from ...	June 16, 2011	discussion
Are Our Schools Doing Their Part to Fulfill the Promise of the Constitution?A Civic Connector Commentary by Judge Frank DamrellThe “Civic Connector” is a daily online forum during the 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship. The September 17 commentator is Judge Frank Damrell. Judge Damrell’s “Civic ...	September 17, 2011	discussion
The Gardens of DemocracyAn interview with Eric Liu and Nick HanauerEric Liu is an author and speaker who served as a speechwriter and policy advisor to President Bill Clinton. Nick Hanauer is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Together, they have authored two books, ...	December 12, 2011	discussion
“Teaching America,” a Brookings Institution EventOn January 9, Brookings hosted a discussion of Teaching America: The Case for Civic Education. Contributing authors laid out their proposals for strengthening civic education in a discussion moderated ...	January 17, 2012	discussion
Public Policy Chat: Ted McConnellIn this month’s Public Policy Chat, NCoC Communications Fellow Alice Murphy talks to Ted McConnell about recent changes to national education policies and what that means for civic learning and the ...	March 20, 2012	discussion

Civic Learning Solutions

Title	Date	Type
What So Proudly We HailMaking American citizens through literatureWhat So Proudly We hail takes a literary approach to civic education, using short stories, speeches, and songs to teach about the American character and American identity. Resources include an online curriculum—complete ...	November 29, 2012
Closing the College Completion GapA Guide for Faith CommunitiesA degree beyond high school has become an essential element of opportunity in America and is a proven pathway out of poverty. However, the majority of our nation's young people, especially low-income ...	November 1, 2010	discussion
Campaign for the Civic Mission of SchoolsNCoC is proud to partner with the leading coalition committed to improving the quality and quantity of civic learning in American schools.	Oct 28th, 2008	partner
Center for Civic EducationThe Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational corporation dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged ...	Nov 1st, 2008	partner
Close Up FoundationFormed in 1971, Close Up is a nonprofit that exists to educate and inspire young people to participate in our democracy.	January 13, 2009	partner
First Amendment SchoolsFirst Amendment Schools: Educating for Freedom and Responsibility is a national reform initiative designed to transform how schools teach and practice the rights and responsibilities of citizenship that ...	Nov 1st, 2008	partner
iCivicsiCivics (formerly Our Courts) is a web-based education project designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy.	November 17, 2008	partner
From Command to CommunityLeadership is changing. Leadership education needs to change with it.In this collection of innovative and diverse essays, editors Nicholas V. Longo and Cynthia M. Gibson present a new definition of leadership education. Moving away from the top-down notion of leadership, ...	April 15, 2011	press release
Presidents ParkResources on leaders in American historyExactly what are “defining moments” and how do they shape a nation's history? This was the mission of the recently closed President's Park. Though the park's resources provide a wealth of information ...	October 13, 2010	program
Paths to 21st Century Competencies Through Civic Education ClassroomsThere is an expectation that students will have mastered an essential skill set by the completion of their education. In an economy that is globally connected and rapidly changing, the required skills ...	December 1, 2009	publication