Overview

What is the Civics Action Project?

Goals of the Civics Action Project

By completing student-led civics projects, students (you) will:

Develop civic dispositions and a sense of self-efficacy.
Develop and practice civic skills.
Build civic content knowledge.
Develop and practice literacy skills, including digital media literacy.
Conduct inquiries and determine next steps.
Develop and practice social-emotional skills.
Be more academically engaged.
Develop cultural competence and social political awareness.

While the list above identifies some of the outcome goals of civic projects, the ultimate goal of student-led civics projects is to develop civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions as defined in the 2018 History and Social Science Curriculum Framework:

How are schools and districts ensuring that the required student-led civics projects are nonpartisan?

It is essential that these projects are student-led; while teachers may establish guidelines or boundaries on the topics that can be addressed (e.g., working with a science teacher to engage students in action around an environmental policy issue), the choice of topic and action plan should ultimately be student-generated.

Student choice defines the project experience. Students should make informed decisions about the issue, process, and goals for their civics project even as the teacher is setting the broader learning objectives. In doing so, the teacher takes on the role of facilitator, offering guidance, choices, and suggestions, especially at key inflection points of the project.

Although these projects can and likely will lead to discussion of pressing and contemporary issues, as explained in the Civics Project Guidebook, action plans should not be directed at electoral politics, nor should they be developed in support of candidates in particular elections.

Furthermore, the law requires that if classes engage in a project collaboratively, students must have the option of doing an individual project instead.”

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