This page offers resources you can use for site-engagement in SD Unified for Democracy: 2024 Election Cycle Project, as well as resources for supporting students and staff during a potentially stressful and harmful election cycle.
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Where Can I Vote?
Classroom Instruction: Schools should provide instruction in government, history, economics, law, and democracy that is relevant and interesting to students.
Discussion of Current Events and Controversial Issues: Schools should incorporate classroom discussion of current local, national, and international issues and events into the classroom, particularly those that young people view as important to their lives.
Service Learning: Schools should design and implement active civics 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.
Extra-Curricular Activities: Schools should offer extra-curricular activities and opportunities for young people to get involved in their schools or communities outside of the classroom.
School Governance: Schools should encourage student participation in student councils and other school governance opportunities so students gain practical experience in civics and democracy.
Simulations of Democratic Processes: Schools should encourage students to participate in simulations of democratic processes, procedures, and policymaking to teach students 21st century skills such as public speaking, teamwork, close reading, analytical thinking, and the ability to argue both sides of a topic.
As outlined in the research report, "Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools", students who receive effective civic learning are:
More likely to vote and discuss politics at home
Four times more likely to volunteer and work on community issues
More confident in their ability to speak publicly and communicate with their elected representatives
School Leader's Guide to Create Healing Dialogue Space
People in your school community may be under enormous stress and need compassion and support during the election cycle. Intentional design and development of healing school communities and school cultures are essential to show students, school staff members, and families that they are loved and cared for. From our partner SD County Office of Education, this guide offers a structure to create and hold authentic, healing dialogue space for those in your school community as needed. (This guide was written in response to the need due to COVID 19, but is applicable to any time of need.)
Inform Staff and Encourage Them to Utilize the free VEBA Resources
Encourage your staff to take advantage of VEBAs free member benefits. Faculty can meet with a Care Navigator to create a tailored plan for a healthy body, mind and spirit.
Encourage your staff to take advantage of VEBAs free member benefits. Faculty can meet with a VEBA Therapist. This program is crafted to be a lifeline during moments of urgency and is meant to serve as a bridge between the professional care needed now and the care provided by a medical group.
Visit VEBA's Self-Care webpage to view their self-care resource library with articles and videos you can share or build-in to staff meetings as needed.
Practicing self-regulation improves your staff's physical health, resilience and ability to face difficult life circumstances. VEBA's Behavioral Health page includes classes, articles, and videos to improve behavioral health.
Be An Empathetic Listener
Use RJP Department's guide to empathetic listening.
Encourage Faculty to Use Proactive Circles in Every Classroom
Share the RJP Department's Guide to Proactive Circles and their Resource Guide for Community Circles. Classroom communities will be best positioned to respond to instances of hate if restorative processes are already part of their every day practice.
Engage in Restorative Conversations with Staff and Students
The following resources from our Restorative Justice Department will support you in engaging in restorative conversations when election cycle rhetoric spills onto campus.
This restorative questions guide includes an organizer that can help students think about and prepare for restorative conversations.
These restorative questions cards include the questions to keep at your fingertips always. You can print them and distribute them to teachers as well.
This visual think sheet and restorative reflection sheet can support younger students in engaging in restorative ways.
You can visit the RJP Tier 2 Supportive Practices/Restorative Chats webpage for more resources.
Encourage Use of RDP & Me Supportive Practices in Every Classroom
Share the link to the RJP Department's RDP & Me Supportive Practices for access to resources to support teachers. Classroom communities will be best positioned to respond to instances of hate if restorative processes are already part of their every day practice.
Participate in CA's Mock Elections on Tuesday, Oct 8 (Middle and High School)
From our partner CA Secretary of State, register to participate in the 2024 California Mock Elections by September 16. Read the joint letter from Secretary of State and Department of Education. Sign up and see resources or learn more on the website.
Get Supplies and Host Your Own Mock Election
(Elementary)
From our partner San Diego County Registrar of Voters, get supplies to set up a mock election at your site.
You can coordinate the mock election and prepare your own ballots and election process by connecting with the SD County Registrar of Voters Logistics Manager, Laura Kelly, whose team is able to receive the specific requests, provide booths, I Voted stickers, and schedule a pickup time, etc.
Inquiries related to mock election supplies and pickup scheduling should be directed to:
Laura Kelly, Elections Manager
Request a Civic Engagement Workshop for Students
(High School)
Our partners CA Secretary of State and SD County Registrar of Voters work together to coordinate civic engagement workshops and voter registration training at high schools. To request this service, Contact Su Nguyen at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.
(858) 505-7243
Host a Community Event to Combat Mis- and
Dis-Information
Utilize this resource guide and this presentation from our partner League of Women Voters via their "Democracy Truth Project" to invite community partners to a presentation to learn how to combat mis- and dis-information.
Post and Share Tips and Graphics to Combat Mis- and Dis-Information
Learn more about misinformation and disinformation here. Post the included tips on your website or scroll down the page to access graphics with the same information for Instagram posts.
Post and Share PSAs About Being Informed
From our partner League of Women Voters, share PSA videos to help inform community partners.
Verify Before You Share Spanish
Share Pre-Registration Resources with Students
(16+ years)
Post the pre-registration flyer on your website or social media. You can access the flyer in 10 different languages here. You can also share the "Our Time is Now" promotional video.
Post and Share Informational Videos to Support Voters in Your Community
The videos on this page offer stories to encourage using your voice as well as tips for how to vote. Select the ones that are most relevant, and share them in different ways with your community. When you click on a video it comes up in another page where you can get a Youtube share link to embad on websites.
Host a Voter Registration Event
Register with our partner Rock the Vote to get a toolkit for hosting a voter registration event. Use this link.
Share the Voter Guide with Community Partners
From our partner League of Women Voters and their Vote 411 initiative, share this Voter Guide so your community partners can get up-to-date personalized ballot and candidate information.
Help Community Partners Make a Voting Plan - Especially for New Voters
From our partner League of Women Voters and their Vote 411 initiative, share this important page that includes everything needed to successfully participate in the election.
Share Voter Registration Links with Community
Share the link to the CA Secretary of State Voter Registration page. The information on this page is available in ten languages.
Request a "Judges in the Classroom" Visit
Visit Power of Democracy and/or share link with teachers to request a classroom visits include time for students to get to know the judge, ask questions about their role, path to the bench, types of cases they hear, etc. Judges will not provide lectures on responsible citizenry, community service, or other topics unrelated to the operations of the judicial branch.
If you have any questions, judicialoutreach@jud.ca.gov
Election Day Walk
Through Polls at Vote Center Schools November 4
(All Levels)
If your school is a vote center/polling site, you can arrange for classes to do walkthroughs on Monday, November 4 (only).
You can even arrange for the site manager or precinct inspector to talk and explain things to students if they aren't too busy.
Check back closer to Election Day for details including host sites and contact names.
Encourage Students to Become a Poll Worker
(High)
Encourage students to become a poll worker.
Starting at age 16, high school students who are U.S. citizens, maintain a 2.5 grade point average, and have permission from their parent or guardian and school can learn how elections are run while they earn money as a student poll worker on Election Day. If interested, students complete the high school poll worker application. It only takes 2-3 minutes!
You can also share the high school poll worker FAQ.
