Florida isn’t the only state that is proactively working to advance civics literacy and civic engagement. In California, a state task force has called for a revival in civics education, transforming it from “an afterthought” – an undervalued social studies class – to a core element of study and community engagement.
An Aug. 7 report on Ed Source by John Fensterwald (http://edsource.org/2014/task-force-urges-remake-of-civics-education/66060#.U-T1rYKFlCM) reviewed details of the final report of the The California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning. The task force, commissioned by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, urges a new approach to civic learning, which it defines as “cultivating the qualities that will enable all students to mature and participate in our democracy.” The 23-member task force’s recommendations include:
- Rewriting the state’s 15-year-old history and social studies standards to incorporate civic learning in every grade;
- Involving students in school governance and decision-making to create a school culture that “embodies democratic values and principles;”
- Creating a “best-practices clearinghouse” and training opportunities for teachers;
- Reaching out to government, businesses, the courts and nonprofit organizations to create projects and internships for students involving government and community issues that interest them.
The report states that only 13 percent of California high school seniors showed a solid understanding of U.S. history and less than half viewed active involvement in state and local issues as their responsibility.
According to Fensterwald’s article, student disengagement is partly the product of years of tighter budgets, added academic requirements and a shift in focus under test-driven accountability. “It’s different for this generation of students, for the landscape of teaching and learning has changed so much,” said David Gordon, Sacramento County superintendent of schools. “Things that used to be in the curriculum have been driven out.”
But the timing for change may be right, the report says, with the adoption of broader criteria for measuring student learning under the state’s new school financing system and the adoption of the Common Core State Standards.
The entire report is on the website of the California Department of Education.