Awards and Recognition Toolkit

'Overview', 'step1' => 'Step 1: Organize a CMS Leadership Team', 'step2' => 'Step 2: Hold Discussions with Key Groups', 'step3' => 'Step 3: Bring the Ideas Back to the Table', 'step4' => 'Step 4: Implement!', 'step5' => 'Step 5: Share Your Work with the Campaign and Other Schools', 'step6' => 'Step 6: Apply for Award', 'resources' => 'Comprehensive Resource Index' ); $ord_pages = array_keys($pages); $p = $_GET['p']; if (!isset($pages[$p])) $p = 'intro'; $p_pos = array_search($p,$ord_pages); $nav = '
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'; switch ($p) { case 'intro': print <<Purpose: One of the major goals of our state campaign is to create interest and support for the civic mission of schools at the district and school site levels. Our state legislature and governor are urging action through ACR#30 which calls for school board members, administrators and teachers to regularly examine and strengthen the six research based promising approaches that prepare young people to become engaged citizens. These recommendations are found in The Civic Mission of Schools, published by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and CIRCLE.

To promote this goal, the Campaign has created an awards and recognition program. Schools that elect to systematically review and improve their current efforts to develop engaged citizens will be recognized by the Campaign with one of two designations of excellence. Those carrying out a school-wide assessment and planning process to identify strengths and weaknesses of present practice will be designated Schools of Merit. Schools that implement a plan to strengthen current practice and/or that already have programs that operate at a high level of excellence will be designated Schools of Distinction. These activities must be based on the six promising approaches to civic education made by the Civic Mission of Schools report. A number of special awards will also be given for excellence in individual program areas.

Ten school districts in California have been participating in the California Campaign as CMS Demonstration Sites. Schools in these districts are exploring how civic education can be enhanced both in and out of the classroom. Many of the schools are currently implementing innovative ideas that support the CMS six promising approaches. With the help of these demonstration sites, the Campaign is providing suggested steps and resources to assist schools applying for Schools of Merit or Schools of Distinction awards.

Step One: Organize a CMS Leadership Team

Create a team that will take leadership in raising awareness about the CMS Report and its recommendations. Generate enthusiasm to participate in the process of enhancing civic education school-wide. Let the Campaign know you are involved.

Step Two: Hold Discussions with Key Groups

Generate school-wide support and enthusiasm and begin more in-depth discussions about the six promising approaches. Explore how the approaches could be enhanced in different settings (classroom, co-curricular, etc.) Collect ideas from key groups about ways to increase/refine civic education opportunities for students.

Step Three: Bring the Ideas Back to the Table

The CMS Leadership Team reconvenes. Use the suggestions and input from the discussions with key groups to create a short-term plan for enhancing civic education. Develop long-term goals for next steps. Create an implementation strategy.

Step Four: Implement!

Try out an idea that supports at least one of the six promising approaches.

Step Five: Share Your Work with the Campaign and Other Schools

Share resources with other schools and districts.

Step Six: Apply for the School of Merit or School of Distinction Award

Be recognized statewide for your work. Apply for one of the awards.

EOD; break; case 'step1': print <<

Toolkit Resources

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The CMS report emphasizes the importance of a school-wide effort. Civic education should reach beyond the 12th Grade Government and other History-Social Science courses.

Consider inviting the participation of:

  • Principal or designate
  • Parents
  • Students
  • Leadership teacher
  • Librarian
  • Representatives from the community
  • Representative from the school district
  • Social Studies and Language Arts chairs/teachers
  • Activities director /leaders of co-curricular programs
  • Student government sponsor
  • Service-Learning coordinator or practitioner
  • Other individuals who are excited about this work.

For elementary schools and for a district-wide model, consider including primary (K-3), intermediate (4-5), and middle school representatives.

The goal of the first meeting is to become familiar with the Campaign goals and the six promising approaches for civic education. The team creates a strategy for involving other key groups in discussing how to enhance civic opportunities throughout the school. Campaign resources include ideas for planning your CMS Leadership Team agendas.

The media presentation and the Campaign prospectus provide an overview of the Civic Mission of Schools, Campaign goals, and the six promising approaches. Also available are rubrics for exploring existing civic education opportunities at your school.

The five steps are intended to provide a basic structure. Your process may take different directions, and we hope you will share what you learn along the way with the campaign.

Be sure to register you school for the Awards and Recognition Program!

Tips from Civic Mission Pilot Schools

CMS Leadership Teams that include individuals representing a variety of groups within a school and community have generated a lot of support and excitement about the civic mission of schools.

Several pilot schools used the Citizenship Brainstorm Activity to open the first Leadership Team meeting.

It is important to note that the process of creating Leadership Teams and going through the process of exploring ways to enhance civic education looked different at each of the pilot schools.

EOD; break; case 'step2': print <<

Toolkit Resources

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The next step is to take the discussion beyond the CMS Leadership Team and into the school and community. Discussion guides designed for various key groups are provided in the resources.

Discussion groups could be held with:

  • Primary/Intermediate Teachers (Elementary)
  • Social Studies Department (Secondary)
  • English-Language Arts Department (Secondary)
  • Community groups associated with the school:
    • Business
    • Higher-Ed
    • Non-profit
    • Police
    • Local government
    • Family or Youth-serving
  • Parents
  • Youth
  • Sponsors of co-curricular programs
  • Existing steering committee members

Tips from Civic Mission Pilot Schools

Pilot site teams gained new insights and collected innovative ideas by engaging other groups in discussing the civic mission of schools. These discussions were often held during scheduled department or committee meetings to avoid making the Campaign efforts seem like an "add-on" to already busy schedules. Several School Teams also used the media presentation and the Effective Citizenship Brainstorm activity to generate discussion, as well as the Campaign prospectus to provide background.

Try to generate engaged discussion and avoid a lecture-style presentation with the different groups. At most schools, members of the team took the lead in facilitating discussions among key groups.

EOD; break; case 'step3': print <<

Toolkit Resources

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Reconvene the CMS Leadership Team and summarize the outcomes of the discussions held with key groups. Find common needs and innovative ideas. See if priorities start to emerge.

Develop a CMS Campaign plan. Consider short-term goals that can generate momentum as well as longer-term goals to guide future work. Use the Resource Directory for California Schools to find programs, curricula, and other resources to support your goals.

The Campaign has included a planning document for you to use as you develop, implement, and assess your CMS activities. You are encouraged to modify the form to suit your needs.

Tips from Civic Mission Pilot Schools

Start with the things that are likely to be successful without requiring a lot of time and resources. Several demonstration sites used the first activity to build momentum, often within one subject-matter department. Other teams started with teacher professional development on specific curricula or strategies, like integrating discussion of current events into existing courses. One site focused on making their existing service-learning program more civic-based. A few sites were already in the process of setting up small learning communities and included a focus on building in high-quality civic education programs and opportunities.

Try to generate engaged discussion and avoid a lecture-style presentation with the different groups. At most schools, members of the team took the lead in facilitating discussions among key groups.

EOD; break; case 'step4': print <<

Toolkit Resources

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For Schools of Merit Applicants:

Implement an activity or two from your school's CMS Campaign plan. Remember, this is not a mandated project requiring a full assessment and accountability report. You have an opportunity to try out ideas without high-stakes pressure. Explore creative ways to gauge your success along the way and document your activities to share with others.

The Campaign has provided several resources you could adapt to document and capture the success of your activities. Don't forget to notify local media if your school is doing something newsworthy!

For Schools of Distinction Applicants:

Use the self-assessment rubric to describe your exemplary work in supporting at least two of the promising approaches. Please provide specific examples for the promising approaches you select. Be sure to include examples that will illustrate activities going on in the classroom, as well as extra curricular opportunities your school provides for students.

You are encouraged to attach documentation that captures the success of your work in your application. A List of ideas for documenting your work is provided in the Campaign Resources.

Tips from Civic Mission Pilot Schools

Prior to implementation, use permission forms for photos of students and adults participating in activities so you can publish in print and on-line. Send photos to CRF with captions. (Photo release forms are in the Campaign Media Guide for Schools.)

EOD; break; case 'step5': print <<

Toolkit Resources

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Share what your school has done with the rest of the state and nation. Submit descriptions of your activities and resources you used to the Resource Directory. Most importantly, become a resource for other schools interested in enhancing civic education.

EOD; break; case 'step6': print <<

Toolkit Resources

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Download the application for School of Merit or School of Distinction. use the questions as a quie to describe your work and attach documentation, any press articles, or other samples that demonstrate your success in supporting the Civic Missions of Schools and the six promising approaches.

EOD; break; case 'resources': print <<
  • Application for School of Merit Award (Key Resource)
  • Application for School of Distinction Award (Key Resource)
  • Assess/Document Your Work (Key Resource) (PDF, 16 KB)
  • California Campaign School Plan (Key Resource) (PDF, 63 KB)
  • Campaign Prospectus (Key Resource) (PDF, 134 KB)
  • Campaign School Board Presentation-Template (Key Resource) (PPT, 1010 KB)
  • Campaign Resource Directory Submission (DOC, 664 KB)
  • Citizenship Brainstorm Activity (PDF, 44 KB)
  • Discussion Guides: (Key Resource)
  • Ideas for Leadership Mettings (Key Resource) (PDF, 14 KB)
  • Logos, letterhead, & images
  • National CMS Resource Submission
  • Register Your School
  • Research
  • Self-Assessment Rubric (Key Resource)
  • Samples from Campaign Demonstration Schools:
    • (Key Resource) - Key Resource
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    A project of Constitutional Rights Foundation in collaboration with the
    Center for Civic Education and the Alliance for Representative Democracy.
    This project is made possible by generous grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Skirball Foundation