Arizona Study on Civic Education (PDF - 4/2009)

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on Daily Show talking about Civic Education (3/2/09)

Nation's report card on Civics released (5/16/07)

Civic Education and Engagement Commission Passed (6/22/06)

Arizona Republic: Constitution Added to Classroom Flags Bill (6/21/06)

Arizona Republic Editorial: Put Civics Back in Classroom (5/31/06)

Arizona Republic Editorial: Freedom is messy at times (4/25/06)

Not By Math Alone -- Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Roy Romer Article (3/25/06)

Initial data from school district survey (11/05)

Arizona Social Studies Standards revisions update (9/26/05)

Third Congressional Conference on Civic Education (9/05)

AZ Civics Coalition Partner Form (PDF 118K)

Arizona Civics Coalition Vision (3/05 PDF)

Remarks by Jeff Schrade before the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Civic Education
November 8th, 2005

Chairman Bee, Chairperson Burns and other distinguished members of this committee, my name is Jeff Schrade and I’m here today to talk about civic education in Arizona.  Let me first describe the window from which I view this topic.  I am an Arizonan and a product of the Washington Elementary and Glendale High School Districts.   I enjoyed my public education and I am grateful that it ignited the spark of citizenship within me.  Although I’m not too sure at what point this spark was lit… maybe it was during an 8th or 12th grade government class, maybe it was in student government (although the experience of losing 4 straight student government elections in grades 5-8 left me a little sour on politics), maybe it was the Junior ROTC program, maybe it was attending Boys State, or spending time with veterans in the Patriotic Education programs of the Military Order of the World Wars.  Maybe it was the accumulated effect of all these in-school and out of school programs, or even discussions with my father about politics (I don’t know what he’s registered as to this day!) nevertheless for me the spark was definitely lit. 

            Today I have been fortunate to carry on that spark on to what I consider my dream job at a local non-profit organization, the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, directing several educational programs that aim to instill this same reverence for citizenship in our great country that I hold so dear.  One of these programs is a collaborative effort among individuals and organizations in Arizona to strengthen civic education and the Civic Mission of Schools called the Arizona Civics Coalition.

            In light of the testimony you’ve heard today, the Arizona Civics Coalition was created as part of a coordinated national effort to advocate for increased Civic Education and to restore the Civic Mission of Schools.  The Arizona Civics Coalition is committed to helping young Arizonans acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. Meaning that they:

1. are informed and thoughtful; have a grasp and an appreciation of history and the fundamental processes of American democracy; have an understanding and awareness of public and community issues; and have the ability to obtain information, think critically, and enter into dialogue among others with different perspectives.

2. participate in their communities through membership in or contributions to organizations working to address an array of cultural, social, political, and religious interests and beliefs.

3. act politically by having the skills, knowledge, and commitment needed to accomplish public purposes, such as group problem solving, public speaking, petitioning and protesting, and voting.

4. have moral and civic virtues such as concern for the rights and welfare of others, social responsibility, tolerance and respect, and belief in the capacity to make a difference.

            The Arizona Civics Coalition has been meeting over the last year to craft a campaign for improving civic education in Arizona.  The first step in our campaign is gathering data in order to define the issue and uncover community needs, ultimately empowering state and local decision-makers to develop effective strategies to improve civic education. 

            Members of the Arizona Civics Coalition have been working with the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism to develop and implement a survey of 3,000 middle and high school students across the state.  – I’d like to specifically acknowledge the help of Carrol Warren and Jean Ajamie at the Arizona Department of Education for their help on this project. 

            It is well established that our youth of today do not possess the political awareness and knowledge of basic concepts of democracy, and in our survey we are not looking to cover new ground in measuring how much they don’t know.  For an example of this one needs only to stay up for an installment of “Jay walking” on the Tonight show.  More scientifically rigorous - but equally amusing – research done on national surveys has shown that more young people (15-26) know the hometown of the Simpsons or the winner of American Idol than know which party controls congress, or the state legislature.  More can identify the three stooges than can list the three branches of government. The US Department of Education’s NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress), sometimes called “America’s Report Card” showed that 76% of all 8th graders were below proficient in civics - and this improved just slightly to 70% of 12th graders who were less than proficient in civics.  And an international survey, while ranking American students highly in “civic skills”--  America was ranked behind Poland, Cyprus and Greece (among others) in civic knowledge.

            We are not interested in conducting another survey to admire the problem.  Rather, the student survey in Arizona will aim to uncover why civic knowledge is low, and more importantly to answer whether and how civic education can address these academic shortcomings.  A parallel random dial telephone survey of Arizona Voters will also be conducted to gauge the public’s perception toward civic education and the general civic engagement of Arizona citizens.  This data should be complete in early 2006.
 
            Adding to this robust data set, the Arizona Civics Coalition is also conducting separate surveys of school district administrators and school principals.  I’m proud to share that our first survey of school district administrators was completed November 1st, 2005 and had a fantastic 47% response rate (99 Arizona School Districts – representing 74% of Arizona’s total public school enrollment).  While a detailed report on the data will not be released until next week on the AzCivics.org website, I will share some of the initial results. 

1. Arizona districts cover civics most heavily in grade 8 and grade 12
2. With the exception of 12th grade, districts do not offer many civics courses in high school
3. Only 38% of districts have Service learning programs linked to civics instruction
4.  53% of school districts have never offered teacher training in civics, while only 21% have offered teacher training in civics in the last 2 years.
5. 39% say that classroom instruction time devoted to civics, government and citizenship has been reduced because of standardized exams
6. About ¾ said access to quality classroom materials and professional development conferences and workshops for teachers would be very helpful in improving their civic education program
7. Almost half responded that a larger number of elective course options, more administrative support for civic education, and a statewide assessment for civics/social studies would not be helpful at all in improving their civic education program

            As I mentioned, this is initial data in a larger and much more important data gathering effort that will not be complete for many months.  But it is also important to mention that the effort will not end with data gathering.  When the data gathering is complete, the Arizona Civics Coalition will convene a series of community forums across the state where community leaders can consider the data and develop effective local strategies to improve civic education.  This is an important step taking into consideration the high level of local control in our state’s educational system.  Public policy strengthening civic education that comes from this committee and the commission it will establish must be supported and implemented by Arizona’s 211 school districts, 500+ charter schools and 200+ private and parochial schools.  We are committed to making that happen. 

            We are also mindful of the most influential people in a person’s development as a citizen: their parents and grandparents.  It will be important to encourage the 2.5 million Arizonans who are parents and the countless others who are grandparents to model democratic behaviors like voting, discussing current issues with their kids, and knowing the basis of our government and US Constitution.  Hopefully you will play a part in spreading this message through our Arizona newspapers, Television and radio stations.

            While a narrowly-focused and purely backward-looking assessment of the data about civic education in Arizona presented here today would be grounds for some pessimism.  A broader look at the state of civic education in Arizona reveals that the State is richly supplied with resources, energy, and commitment towards civic education – manifested by the commitment of the individuals and organizations of the Arizona Civics Coalition and this body.  Arizona has benefited handsomely from the efforts of Kids Voting, YMCA Youth in Government, veterans organizations who sponsor programs such as Boys and Girls State, and our own Legislators Back to School week.  I’m happy to report that with your help my organization distributed over 25,000 blue pocket constitutions in three weeks around Constitution Day this September.  Make no mistake, there are indeed Arizona Youth who have had the spark of citizenship ignited by exemplary civics programs.

            In fact, Arizona students have shown tremendous enthusiasm for interesting and interactive civic education programs, repeatedly putting Arizona schools at the top in nationwide academic competitions.  Students from one class even testified before some of you in this very building in support of an anti-bullying bill that came about as part of their middle school Project Citizen program.  A bill that was ultimately signed into law last session.  If that’s not effective civic education, lord knows what is?!?

            These young people, as well as the scores of educators and community volunteers who have witnessed the power of programs promoting active citizenship, are the vanguard for the effort to strengthen civic education in Arizona.  We truly appreciate the Arizona Legislature joining this effort.  Through convening this Ad Hoc Legislative committee and create an ongoing commission to examine the issue of civic education, we have an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen our state, our nation and our democracy for years to come.

            In summary, Arizona’s potential as a platform for the creation of an exceptional civic education system is excellent.  What is needed to realize this potential is precisely what this committee is charged with – a framework to discuss, plan, and develop the ideal strategy for making Arizona the model of civic education that it can be.

            Thank you for your time and consideration, and I would be happy to answer any questions.