Civic Readiness Certificate

8th Grade Certificate of Civic Readiness

Criteria and Submission Instructions

The New York State Education Department defines a student in grades 5-8 as civically ready if they “use civic knowledge, skills, and mindsets to make decisions and take action for themselves, their communities, and the public good.”  In recognition of the many students in our Civics for All Partner Schools who meet this definition, Civics for All is awarding a Certificate of Civic Readiness to eligible fifth and eighth grade students upon their promotion to sixth and ninth grade.  Please see below for eligibility criteria and submission instructions. Certificates will be provided to schools in a digital format, to be printed and distributed at each school’s discretion. 

In alignment with the requirements outlined in the New York City Department of Education Seal of Civic Readiness Handbook 2024–2025 (Page 37), students who have completed the Take Action project are eligible to earn a point toward the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness which is completed during high school. 

Please note that our process for requesting 8th Grade Certificates of Civic Readiness has been slightly modified to capture additional information, as the completion of the Take Action project qualifies towards the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness and must now be formally documented.

8th Grade Certificate of Civic Readiness Criteria (Soapbox and Take Action!)

• Civic Knowledge: Student has satisfactorily completed social studies coursework aligned to the NYSED Framework for Social Studies and NYCDOE Social Studies Scope & Sequence in grades 6, 7, and 8.

• Civic Skills & Actions: Student has written and delivered a Project Soapbox speech in which they identified a problem in a community to which they belong and proposed a call to action to address the problem.

• Civic Mindsets: Student has demonstrated their ability to be a good classroom citizen, engaging with classmates in a respectful manner and demonstrating a willingness to contribute and help solve issues locally and/or nationally.

• Civic Experiences: Student has engaged in a Take Action! Project, as prescribed in the Civics for All curriculum for grades 6-8. Please note: a completed Take Action! Project meets the criteria for the NYSED Seal of Civic Readiness point for 8th Grade 2e. Middle School Capstone.