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
The Progress of Education Reform: The New CivicsA Report by the Education Commission of the StatesThis issue of The Progress of Education Reform provides a close look at the new civics-how it differs from previous practices, what it includes, how it is supported by research, and its implications for ...	May 30, 2013
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

Civic Learning Discussions and Commentary

Title	Date	Type
“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
A Lesson in Civic Health Sitting Down with Two Secretaries of StateAt the National Association of Secretaries of State Summer Conference 2012, Kristen Cambell, Chief Program Officer for NCoC, hosted a workshop about the role that Secretaries can play in being champions ...	July 31, 2012	discussion
An Inequitable Invitation to CitizenshipNon-College-Bound Youth and Civic EngagementThere has been considerable effort to engage college-bound students in public life, but much less attention has been paid to the 50% of youth that are not on the secondary education track. Philanthropy ...	December 8, 2009	publication
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
Book Release: Citizenship: What Every American Needs to KnowWith a presidential election just four months away and growing concern over America’s civic knowledge deficit, Citizenship offers citizens the tools they need to take part in thoughtful civic ...	June 29, 2012	discussion
Civic Health in Hard TimesA 2009 NCoC PanelThis panel at the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship explored the impact of the economic crisis on the civic health of the states, using the 2009 America’s Civic Health Index findings.	September 25, 2009	video
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
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
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
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

Civic Learning Solutions

Title	Date	Type
Advancing Civic Learning and Engagement in DemocracyA Road Map and Call to ActionU.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan along with several Obama Administration and education officials launched a national conversation today about the importance of educating students for informed, engaged ...	January 10, 2012	publication
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
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
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
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
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
Library Priority: Community-Civic EngagementA leadership brief from the Urban Libraries CouncilA new issue brief, “Library Priority: Community-Civic Engagement” emphasizes the essential role public libraries play in getting people involved in issues of concern in their communities.	December 9, 2011	publication
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