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Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools releases groundbreaking report on the importance of civic education to our nation

The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, in partnership with APPC’s Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics, the National Conference on Citizenship, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University, and the American Bar Association Division for Public Education, produced “Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools,” a roadmap for ensuring that high-quality civics education is delivered in every school in the nation.

The report was released this morning by Dr. Mabel McKinney-Browning, Director of the Public Education Division of the American Bar Association, and Michael Weiser, Chairman of the National Conference on Citizenship, at a press conference and panel discussion at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. A call-to-action to for restoring the civic mission of schools, the report outlines six evidence-based practices for promoting civic education and engagement among youth and offers detailed recommendations for education policymakers at every level.

Among those recommendations is a national awards program – the Presidents’ Award for Civic Engagement, in development by the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics and the National Constitution Center – to increase opportunities for students to participate in school-related clubs, community organizations, and activities that will prepare them to become active, engaged citizens. More information about the award will be available on this website in the coming months.

Download the report here.