Civics Projects must be rooted in the definition of civic readiness including Civic Knowledge, Civics Skills and Action, Civic Mindsets and especially Civic Experiences
How are these projects graded?
Evaluation criteria will be locally determined
Recommend evaluation based on performance indicators included in Social Studies Practice A: Gathering, interpreting and using evidence.
When can students complete the Civics Project?
Any 9-12 Social Studies Course OR any other creative options that your SCR agrees on (during an elective, or as part of an intensive extra-curricular, etc…)
Focus on a civic issue (problem) within a policy area that may be predetermined by the teacher or advisor. The Civic Project is focused on a civic issue (problem) that can be interpreted in a variety of ways by a broad array of citizens holding various viewpoints.
Analyze data that can be provided by the teacher or advisor to determine the impact of the issue on the community and evaluate possible solutions to address the problem
Recommend strategies to address the problem
Communicate recommended strategies using written, audio/visual, and/or oral presentations
Reflect on what they have learned about their role in the civic life of their community
The Student Council advisor creates a committee of students to provide student input to the administration on issues of equity and the school’s code of conduct.
Students are provided with data on the subject of equity in schools, including op-ed columns representing a diverse array of views, quantitative data on disciplinary trends, the NYS School Report Card, articles on Restorative Justice, and other initiatives. Students may also interview school administration, PTSA representatives, and fellow students on the subject of equity.
Students will determine whether the school can improve the school’s code of conduct in terms of equity and make recommendations, if necessary, to that end.
Students will create either a written report, an audio/visual presentation, an oral presentation, etc. to communicate their recommendations.
Students will produce a reflection on the most challenging aspects of affecting policy as a citizen. This will include advice for effective activism for other citizens that wish to impact public policy.
Consider using an inquiry as a springboard for a research project
○ 12th grade Government Inquiries in the NYSED Social Studies Tool Kit.
Federalism
First Amendment
Voting
Political Parties
Campaign Finance
Affordable Care Act
Locally determined
Select from Civic Knowledge, Civic Skills and Actions listed in the Civic Readiness Domains and
gather, interpret and use evidence, including evaluating sources used for bias and credibility. ]
make their own judgments and policy recommendations based on sound reasoning and evidence.
communicate their position persuasively, using a format for the assignment that is determined locally.
reflect on how the project has impacted their civic knowledge, skills, actions, and/or mindset.
Civic Skills, Actions, and Mindsets
Complete a High School Civics Project- (1.5 points*)
Complete a high school civic project that demonstrates civic knowledge, skills, actions and mindsets, as established by the local Seal of Civic Readiness Committee (SCRC).
This is a required component of the KE/KW Participation in Government Class (12th grade) and will be completed as part of that course.
For any students outside of this course that wishes to earn these points independently they can follow the same criteria as listed in the resources above; also see Library Media Specialist for support.
How Points Awarded: -Students will upload their finished project and completed rubric to the appropriate page of the Civic Readiness Canvas platform
-Civic Readiness Committee (CRC) will confirm for reporting purposes.
-These points can be earned more than once, if multiple Civics projects are completed