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
Lower-Income People Serve in More Personal WaysThe Economic Downturn is Reshaping Civic EngagementAmong non-volunteers, respondents in the lower income brackets were more likely to have given food, money, or shelter to those who were in need. When combining all forms of service, the civic gap is much ...	August 27, 2009	civic health index
Engagement and Perceptions of the Civic ContextWho Engages?Few, if any, significant differences in civic engagement emerged between residents of high- and low-scoring states that could not be explained by differences in demographics. However, state average civic ...	August 27, 2009	civic health index
Seeing Capitol Hill from Down Under	February 23, 2009
Nelda Brown on Mandatory Service-learningAs someone who believes in the power of learning through service, I am excited by attempts to give students universal access to service–learning. Mandating service–learning is one way to do ...	December 4, 2008	expert commentary
John Bridgeland on Mandatory Service-learningService–learning is a critical tool in dropout prevention. Research has shown that high–quality service–learning programs can help keep students engaged in their coursework and school, ...	December 3, 2008	expert commentary
Education is the key to state’s civic healthEducation is the key to state's civic health Florida's Civic Health Index, a new feature of America's Civic Health Index — the definitive statistical report on civics in the United States — ...	October 25, 2008	op-ed
Democracy withers if civics not taughtBy Bob Graham, Special to the TimesAfter a speech on education I gave as a state senator in 1974, I was approached by Sue Riley, a teacher skeptical of politicians who lacked classroom experience. How could we know what was best for students ...	October 22, 2008	op-ed
Tuition Money for ServiceAmericans Favor Policy Change to Institutionalize Civic EngagementIn our 2008 survey, the most popular proposal was “offering every young person a chance to earn money toward college or advanced training if they complete a full year of national or community service.”	Sep 22nd, 2008	civic health index
Civic EducationAmericans Favor Policy Change to Institutionalize Civic EngagementIn 2006, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics Assessment found that only 27% of high school seniors were “proficient” in the subject, and only 5% were “advanced.” ...	Sep 22nd, 2008	civic health index
Special Opportunities for Increasing EngagementThis year’s Civic Health Index asked respondents about many forms of civic participation. A closer look at subgroups reveals opportunities for increasing and sustaining their civic engagement.	Sep 22nd, 2008	civic health index

Civic Learning Discussions and Commentary

Title	Date	Type
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
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
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
Public Policy Chat: John BridgelandThis month, NCoC Communications Fellow Alice Murphy talks to John Bridgeland, President and CEO of Civic Enterprises, about service-learning and how the U.S. has progressed on its promise to be a service ...	May 17, 2012	discussion
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
Why Tuesday?by Jacob SoboroffHave you ever asked yourself why we vote on Tuesdays? In this guest post, Why Tuesday? Executive Director Jacob Soboroff highlights a TED Active talk that discusses the historical legislative reasons America’s ...	April 11, 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
“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
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
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

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