Forgotten No More: Civic Seals and Re-affirming the Civic Mission of Schools

Join state education chiefs from leading states across the country who, through civic seals, have found ways to incentivize student learning and preparation for engaged participation in our constitutional democracy. For decades schools have stepped back from their essential civic mission, de-emphasizing and de-prioritizing civics and social studies disciplines through declining resources and investments of time. The consequence is a public that lacks access to the knowledge, skills, and dispositions gained in the classroom that provide the foundation for an informed and engaged populace. Nowhere is this more apparent than how student success is measured, often exclusively emphasizing reading and math scores at the expense of other essential competencies. This fact results in as much a disservice to our students as it does our democracy: Students who participate in civics are not only more likely to vote, discuss topics with their neighbors, and in the betterment of their community, but also perform better on skills essential to college and career success as well. Recognizing that what gets measured gets valued, states across the country, red, purple, and blue, are leading in developing civic seals that signify student success. Come learn about efforts in three leading states as they help inform what can be achieved in all states across the country.

Featured Speakers:
• Beth Ratway, Principal TA Consultant, American Institutes for Research (moderator)
• Jhone M. Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nevada
• Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, California
• Richard Woods, State School Superintendent, Georgia