Civics 2.0 Learning Standards

  • Standards Alignment 

    American Government 

    Topic: Civic Involvement 

    Students can engage societal problems and participate in opportunities to contribute to the common good through governmental and nongovernmental channels. 

    Content Statements: 

    1. Opportunities for civic engagement within the structures of government are made possible by political and public policy processes.  
    1. Political parties, interest groups and the media provide opportunities for civic involvement through various means.  

    Topic: Civic Participation and Skills 

    Democratic government is enhanced when individuals exercise the skills to effectively participate in civic affairs.  

    Content Statements: 

    1. Issues can be analyzed through the critical use of credible sources 
    2. The processes of persuasion, compromise, consensus building, and negotiation contribute to the democratic process.  

    Profile of a Graduate Alignment  

    Prepared for Global Citizenship - Embrace personal, civic, local, and global responsibilities for making the world a better place. Understand that addressing societal challenges often requires comprehending complex issues, varying perspectives, and compromise. 

    Skilled Collaborator - Students demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams. Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal. Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value individual contributions made by each team member. 

    Possesses an Academic Mindset – Demonstrate they belong to their learning community. They can change their outcomes through effort (a growth mindset). They can succeed. Their work has value and purpose for them.  

    Skilled at Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - View problems, looking for both bigger picture connections and more detailed distinctions, to gain insights that will inform solutions.  Regularly pursue additional information and evidence to refine understandings. 

    High School Civics 2.0 Project Description  

    The four campaigns of Civics 2.0:  Voter Verification/Registration, In- Person Early Voting, and Education & Mobilization, the Day of Action  

     

    Phase 1 – Introduction / Voter Verification & Registration 

    Scholars will 

      • High school scholars are recruited during the first two weeks of schools.  
      • Organize a Voter Registration Drive 
      • Learn how to navigate and utilize the Board of Elections website 
      • Attend Future of Democracy Training if interested in working at the polls on election day 
      • Design and man a voter registration/education table in every high school.  
      • Man voter registration tables at open house 
      • Travel to the Board of Elections to early vote 

     

    Phase 2 – Education  

    Scholars will 

      • Complete a community issue survey. They will rate topics as it relates to them personally. 
      • Crime in Cleveland 
      • Gang Violence 
      • Policing in Cleveland 
      • Community Food Deserts 
      • Lead Poisoning 
      • Other 
      • Write two statements about the topic(s) most important to them. The statement will include the problem and the solution.) 
      • Announce the identified CMSD action item 
      • Research and learn about their self-selected community issue.  
      • Determine who to contact about the issue. (i.e.., public official, community agency, etc.)  

     

    Phase 3 – Mobilization  

    Students will 

      • Organize 
      • Decide how officials will be contacted. 
      • Create a script to the fact that they are CMSD students and that they are registered votes who intend to vote or will register and vote when they are old enough. The script will include the statements about the topic and what they want the official to do about it. 

     

    Phase 4 – Activation—Culminating Event 

    • Activation – CMSD Day of Action – every scholar will contact the designated official via 
    • Emails, tweets, phone calls, letters or attending campaign events