CIVIC EDUCATION AND THE ROLE OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Report of a Program of the League of Women Voters of Volusia County,
January 22, 2005
The League of Women Voters of Florida has decided to make civic education a Legislative Action Priority in 2005. The LWVVC held an informational meeting on the topic, to determine if this should also be recommended to the membership for a study by the LWVVC.
After information for new members on LWV publications; national, state and local education positions on education; and an outline by President Judy Moore on how programs and study positions are determined, the program turned to civics education. Betty Johnson outlined and discussed the national surveys (click here for the bibliography) on civic education which overwhelmingly indicate that schools have the courses, but many students still don’t graduate from high school with the knowledge they need to be informed voters or the enthusiasm for the process to actually vote.
Jason Caros, Social Studies Curriculum Specialist for Volusia County, then outlined the coursework in civics and American government in Volusia County, from elementary through high school levels. Caros showed that the coursework builds on itself, starting with the K-3 basic elements of rules and procedures, the flag, etc., ending with the 12th grade one-semester course in American Government.
In the question and answer period following, it became clear that part of the problem in Florida may be the lack of accountability for student learning in this subject. Social Studies are not included in the FCATs, and the current Pupil Progression Plan allows students to progress into high school without passing the middle school Social Studies courses, meaning that they may lack the background to thoroughly benefit from the high school courses.
The consensus of the LWVVC members attending was that we do not need to assign a local study group on civic education, but we do see the need for adding the Social Studies to the Pupil Progression Plan statute. Caros said that the Florida Association of Social Studies Specialists is strongly in favor of this. After the meeting, Caros made available for posting on this LWVVC website the text of House Bill 0445 to amend the statute and also a copy of a letter from Jim Warford, K-12 Chancellor for the Florida Department of Education, supporting this amendment. There is also a need to get a corresponding Senate bill filed.
Many LWVVC members indicated they would personally support this amendment by communicating with local legislators. Text of both of these are available through the links noted above.
SELECTED SOURCES AND LINKS FOR INFORMATION
ON CIVIC EDUCATION
Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools
The Center for Civic Education
The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement
See especially their Quick Facts publication on civic education
The Education Commission of the States
This is an extensive site, with many studies and a great deal of information on education in general. The National Center for Learning and Citizenship is the section which focuses on citizenship and civics education. This section maintains an ongoing record of state standards for citizenship education.
The Florida Law Related Education Association, conducts surveys on civic education and also runs programs to encourage civic involvement. The latest survey on Civic Education is from the summer of 2004.
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute issed a report in 2003 on a related topic, "Effective State Standards for U.S. History: A 2003 Report Card".
To see the high school graduation requirements for all subjects in Florida, see: http://www.firn.edu/doe/curriculum/ccd2/gradreq.pdf
Report developed 1/30/05 by Betty D. Johnson