Additional Approved Activites
Additional Approved Activites
Embedded Files
1. Classroom-Based Civic Engagement Project
1. Classroom-Based Civic Engagement Project
Descriptor:
Students collaborate within their social studies classroom to identify a local, state, national, or global civic issue connected to their curriculum. They conduct research using credible sources, analyze multiple perspectives, and develop solutions grounded in evidence. Students demonstrate civic skills through structured activities such as deliberations, simulations, service-learning, or project-based inquiry. The project culminates in a tangible product—such as a policy proposal, informational campaign, or action plan—that is presented to peers, school leaders, or community stakeholders. The classroom-based model ensures that all students have equitable access to civic participation as part of their academic learning experience.
These are TRAILS Director- Approved and are entered by the TRAILS member on theTRAILS Platform under the Activity named "Benchmark VII: Student Engagement Project Classroom-Based." Artifacts showing student work and civic participation that exhibit the criteria found above must include these sessions to qualify for approval.
2. Extracurricular Civic Engagement Project
2. Extracurricular Civic Engagement Project
Descriptor:
Students extend their civic learning beyond the classroom by engaging in clubs, teams, organizations, or independent initiatives that address community needs and public issues. These projects emphasize student leadership, collaboration with peers and adults, and authentic participation in civic processes. Examples include organizing voter registration drives, participating in youth advisory councils, leading environmental initiatives, or volunteering with local nonprofits. Students must document their civic action, reflect on its impact, and share outcomes with a wider audience. The extracurricular model highlights student initiative and sustained commitment to civic life outside the regular instructional day.
These are TRAILS Director- Approved and are entered by the TRAILS member on the TRAILS Platform under the Activity named "Benchmark VII: Student Engagement Project Extracurricular." Artifacts showing student work and civic participation that exhibit the criteria found above must include these sessions to qualify for approval.
3. Public Relations Event
3. Public Relations Event
Descriptor:
Grant participants help increase awareness and visibility of the project by sharing grant activities, opportunities, accomplishments, or impact with audiences beyond participating educators. Public Relations Events may include presentations to school boards or community organizations, district or school communications, conference or faculty presentations, media coverage, social media or website features, community events, or other opportunities that publicly highlight the grant and its work. Activities should clearly identify or recognize the grant/project and demonstrate meaningful outreach to an external audience.
These are Director-approved and are entered by the grant participant on the Platform under the designated Public Relations activity. Documentation verifying the event and grant recognition must be included for the entry to qualify for approval. Acceptable artifacts may include agendas, programs, presentation materials, screenshots, photographs, published articles or posts, newsletters, website links, or other evidence of public outreach.
Civic Engagement Projects
Civic Engagement Projects
From Learning to Action
From Learning to Action
The TRAILS Civic Engagement Project gives educators an opportunity to help students move beyond simply learning about citizenship to actually practicing it.
Projects may be classroom-based or extracurricular and can take many different forms depending on students’ ages, interests, curriculum, school, and community. The important piece is that students have an authentic opportunity to investigate an issue, consider multiple perspectives, make informed decisions, and take meaningful action within their classroom, school, or community.
TRAILS Civic Engagement Projects must align with the expectations of the Kentucky Civic Seal, which recognizes students for going beyond basic content knowledge to demonstrate civic understanding, application, participation, and reflection.
A strong project should provide opportunities for students to:
Identify and investigate a real issue, need, question, or concern.
Use credible information and evidence to develop their understanding.
Explore connections to government, democratic principles, civic life, or the common good.
Consider multiple perspectives and engage in informed discussion or decision-making.
Determine an appropriate way to take informed civic action.
Engage with others when appropriate—including classmates, school leaders, families, community organizations, civic leaders, or decision-makers.
Reflect on what they learned, the impact of their actions, and their own role as an engaged citizen.
Projects might include addressing a school or community need, conducting an awareness campaign, communicating with decision-makers, participating in service learning, organizing a school initiative, researching and proposing solutions to a public issue, creating a public exhibit or digital campaign, or another student-driven form of civic action. The Kentucky framework intentionally allows civic engagement to take different forms so students can apply their learning in authentic ways.
Classroom or Beyond the Classroom—Both Count!
Classroom or Beyond the Classroom—Both Count!
A Civic Engagement Project does not have to be a large community event or an after-school activity. Meaningful civic engagement can begin right in your classroom. What matters is that students move from learning and inquiry to application and action.
Think of it as:
QUESTION → INVESTIGATE → DISCUSS → DECIDE → ACT → REFLECT
TRAILS Pre-Approval Required
TRAILS Pre-Approval Required
All TRAILS Civic Engagement Projects must receive Project Director approval before implementation to qualify for program hours and stipend credit. Once approved and completed, teachers will document the project in the TRAILS Platform under Benchmark VII – Civic Engagement Project and upload evidence of student participation and learning.
Want to learn more about the criteria that guide these projects? Explore the Kentucky Civic Seal.
Give students a voice. Give them a purpose. Give them an opportunity to discover that civic engagement is something they can do—not just something they study.
Looking for great resources to teach Civic Education in your classroom? Look no further! The Kentucky Civic Education Coalition and Kentucky's secretary of State Office are collaborating to create a Kentucky civic seal program: The Kentucky Civic Seal. Click on the button below to access these materials.
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