Seal of Civic Readiness Frequently Asked Questions
Seal of Civic Readiness Frequently Asked Questions
How can schools provide civic experiences for students that promote civic learning/knowledge?
Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools outlines six proven practices of civic education:
- Provide instruction in government, history, law, and democracy.
- Incorporate discussion of current local, national, and international issues and events into the classroom, particularly those that young people view as important to their lives.
- Design and implement programs that provide students with the opportunity to apply what they learn through performing community service that is linked to the formal curriculum and classroom instruction.
- Offer extracurricular activities that provide opportunities for young people to get involved in their schools or communities.
- Encourage student participation in school governance.
- Encourage students’ participation in simulations of democratic processes and procedures.
How can schools provide civic learning experiences for students that promote rigorous and equitable participation?
The Pedagogy Companion to the Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy (EAD) outlines three moves school and district leaders can take to provide excellence for all:
- Utilize concrete strategies and suggestions to design learning opportunities that enable all learners to engage in rigorous civics and history instruction.
- Consider the diversity of learners and develop clear benchmarks of progress to support all students and teachers in building and communicating informed arguments. Build systems that ensure all students have access to effective learning experiences [opportunities to earn a civics seal].
- Collaborate with families and community members to learn and incorporate local context into student learning opportunities.
The Pedagogy Companion also elevates the role of a democratic and fair school climate where all students gain agency to participate in civic life. For example, schools can
- Establish a culture of rigorous learning, including social-emotional learning, as a school-wide priority.
- Engage in continuous development of a positive school climate.
- Create opportunities for teacher leadership and student voice through working groups and committees. Set up a system for leveraging student expertise and inputs, especially from those who are challenged by the school climate.
How do government courses differ from civics courses?
Often the differences are in name only. However, according to the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools,
In simple terms, a government class teaches things such as the three branches of government, how a bill becomes law and the Electoral College. Civic education includes the skills and attitudes necessary to be an informed and engaged citizen; it is not synonymous with history. Civic education includes practice in collaboration, cooperation and consensus-building, as well as an understanding of the responsibilities that go along with rights. It includes discussion regarding the philosophical underpinnings that went along with the Founders' decisions as they created our representative democracy, and the relevancy of those concepts today. Exemplary programs include experiential learning and local problem-solving, giving students the capacity to apply learned skills.
What is civic participation?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Civic participation encompasses a wide range of formal and informal activities. Examples include voting, volunteering, participating in group activities, and community gardening. Some are individual activities that benefit society (e.g., voting) or group activities that benefit either the group members (e.g., recreational soccer teams) or society (e.g., volunteer organizations). In addition to the direct benefit that civic participation provides to the community, it also produces secondary health benefits for participants.
What is a diploma seal?
A diploma seal is a special recognition placed on a high school diploma signifying that a student has demonstrated a high level of proficiency in a specific area. Diploma seals vary by state but usually require students to complete a culminating project as well as assessments and/or coursework in areas related to the seal. Each individual state is responsible for developing seals and their criteria, but there are often similarities in the seals that are being offered.
Why are diploma seals offered?
Diploma seals are increasingly used by states to recognize students who go beyond the minimum requirements for and demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a certain area. This recognition can highlight important areas of study and encourage students to participate in learning that challenges them to exceed what is required. Earning the diploma seal is an incentive for students and a signal to colleges and employers that a student has excelled in an area of study.
What is a civics diploma seal?
Each state that offers a civics diploma seal has their own unique set of criteria developed at the state level. There are also differences in the name of the civics seal, such as “Civics Literacy,” “Civic Engagement,” or “Civic Readiness.” There are also many similarities in the criteria for earning civics seals. All states require students to have a high level of proficiency in civics and demonstrate that they have the skills to be civically engaged. Several states do this by requiring a capstone project that demonstrates civic involvement in conjunction with proficient coursework. Other states require service learning based on research along with proficient coursework. Seals differ by state, and no two seals have identical criteria. While the goal is to identify students individually, some states recognize districts or individual schools.
How is civic engagement defined?
According to Thomas Ehrlich, author of Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, civic engagement involves “working to make a difference in the civic life of one’s community and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.”
Which states offer diploma seals for civics?
Seals for civics are currently offered in Arizona, California, Georgia, New York, and Virginia. Several other states are in the process of developing civics diploma seals.
What requirements do students have for earning a civics diploma seal?
Civics diploma seals require students to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in civic knowledge/engagement, and most states allow students to follow several different pathways to earn the seal. It is common to require students to show proficiency in at least two of the following categories:
- History/social science courses
- Service learning/Informed action
- Civic engagement project
- Social studies standardized tests
- Civics capstone project
- Civics portfolio project
What is the benefit of offering diploma seals for students?
Diploma seals can highlight important areas of study and encourage students to participate in learning that challenges them to go beyond what is required. Earning the diploma seal is an incentive for students and a signal to colleges and employers that a student has excelled in the area of civics. One example of a diploma seal is the Seal of Biliteracy. Over forty states and Washington, D.C., now offer a Seal of Biliteracy where students can demonstrate their proficiency in two or more languages by the time they graduate from high school. In Illinois, for example, earning the Seal of Biliteracy has a tangible benefit. By state law, if a student’s high school transcript indicates that he or she received the State Seal of Biliteracy, Illinois public universities will accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent to two years of foreign language coursework taken during high school. Furthermore, a diploma seal in civics education is also important because it recognizes and celebrates the civic engagement that youth are contributing to society.
Why is a civics seal important to offer?
Our students and our communities benefit from the meaningful engagement of students in civic life. Being an informed and engaged citizen is vital for any democracy, and a civics seal encourages this.
How can I propose a seal in my state?
Advocating for a change at the state level can be a daunting task. NCSS has a detailed Toolkit designed to help advocate for educational change at the state level. One possible first step is to build a coalition of like-minded organizations, individuals, and students who can work together to advocate for a seal.
What resources will schools need to offer a civics seal?
Schools that have implemented a civics seal will need support with professional development for teachers, school counselors, administrators, parents, and the general community. Students pursuing the civics diploma seal benefit from mentoring and coaching, particularly if a capstone or service-learning project is a requirement, which may require additional staffing. Schools will also need support with the record-keeping requirements if students pursue the civics diploma seal over multiple school years and/or levels. Funding will also be required for the agency that produces the diploma seals.
What resources on diploma seals does NCSS have available?
The NCSS Board of Directors supports the creation of civics diploma seals as a tangible symbol of the value of comprehensive and research-based civic education practices in schools. Generating the political energy to make changes to state or local educational policy can seem daunting, even to seasoned champions of civic education. We have created or adapted resources to help NCSS members advocate for a civics diploma seal program in states, districts, or schools including:
- FAQ
- Step-by-Step Process
- Sample letters and PowerPoint presentations
- Summary of Civic Education requirements in 50 states
- Research on Civic Education
- More resources as the need arises