Minnesota Civic Youth
It is commonly understood that one of the most important purposes of educating the nation's citizens is to protect and strengthen democracy. Education in America must prepare all students for informed participation in civic and democratic life. Minnesota Civic Youth develops authentic, nonpartisan civic programs to support educators in their efforts to prepare the next generation of citizens and to help students learn about democracy, civic responsibility and the political process.
$200,000 each year is for grants to the Minnesota Civic Education Coalition: Minnesota Civic Youth, the Learning Law and Democracy Foundation, and YMCA Youth in Government to conduct civics education programs for the civic and cultural development of Minnesota youth. Civics education is the study of constitutional principles and the democratic foundation of our national, state, and local institutions and the study of political processes and structures of government, grounded in the understanding of constitutional government under the rule of law.
- In regard to the first project, Respectful Conversation in Schools, research has long indicated that discussion is an under-utilized teaching method in P-12 education, especially in high-minority, low-income schools. Yet studies indicate that discussion, particularly in a classroom climate conducive to students sharing their ideas, is associated with positive outcomes, such as skills in perspective taking, communication, group membership, and conflict resolution; and sense of political efficacy and expected electoral participation. It is our hope that training teachers in the RCS protocol provides them with an effective discussion tool that allows students to achieve the positive outcomes listed
- In regard to the second project, the civic education assessment, we hope to aid in the evaluation of civic education curriculum and extracurricular activities so that schools can develop steps to take to improve the civic education of their students.
For RCS, our presentation at the MN Council for the Social Studies conference open a new door. Going in, our goal was to recruit a new cohort of teachers to train in the RCS protocol. After, only two teachers came forward with a request for additional support -- BUT they asked if we would train all 280 of their eighth grade students in the protocol. In the past, we had trained 5-6 students in each class as table facilitators. These two teachers made the case that every student deserved a leadership training opportunity. Upon further reflection, we agreed! To help determine long-term value of this approach, we decided to develop a pre- and post-survey to evaluate student learning. The teachers agreed to teach a "pre-lesson" about Respectful Conversations and then on a day in late March, a colleague and I spent one whole day -- leading each class for two teachers -- training 280 eighth graders at HighView Middle School in Mounds View. I will include the preand post surveys as attachments. Unfortunately, the two teachers were supposed to send me the results before the end of the school year and that didn't happen. Also, based on feedback from the previous pilots and from teachers attending the workshop in March, we created two training videos -- one for teachers which showed an actual Respectful Conversation in a classroom and one for students illustrating a key component of the protocol.
The significant outcome of the second project -- the civic survey -- was detailed responses by 1 school district administrator, 2 district curriculum coordinators and 83 teachers (only 60 completed the full survey) about when and how civics courses are taught in highs school in their district, how they prepare for, administer and record the required MN Civics Test, as well as additional best practice civic opportunities they provide for their students. I will attach the raw data, which will be compiled into a final report and shared with legislators and the MN Dept. of Education.
$200,000 each year is for grants to the Minnesota Civic Education Coalition: Minnesota Civic Youth, the Learning Law and Democracy Foundation, and YMCA Youth in Government to conduct civics education programs for the civic and cultural development of Minnesota youth. Civics education is the study of constitutional principles and the democratic foundation of our national, state, and local institutions and the study of political processes and structures of government, grounded in the understanding of constitutional government under the rule of law.
- Teachers will report an increased sense of confidence that they and their students can talk respectfully about difficult topics in school.
- Teachers will report feeling better equipped to improve students' civic knowledge, participation skills, and dispositions.
- Teachers will report that students' civic discussion skills are improving as a result of participating in RCS.
- 300 young people and their adult partners will participate in an educational workshop focused on effective advocacy strategies and will also have in-person conversations with their legislator(s) at which they will talk about an issue of importance to them.
- We will get input/feedback from at least 100 additional MN social studies teachers willing to share about their current civic education practices.
- We will recruit at least 1,000 Student Election Judges to work at the polls on Super Tuesday and/or on Election Day 2020.
- Develop a Student Election Judge Toolkit: http://mncivicyouth.org/student-election-judges/ AND http://mncivicyouth.org/student-election-judge-toolkit/
- Held a workshop with more than 60 elections offices from across the state in attendance.
- Trained 70 teachers and 1,200 students from White Bear Lake in RCS.
- Worked with Battle Creek middle school to adapt the program for middle schoolers in a school that has significant diversity, economic disparity and English Language Learners.
- Hosted Youth Day at the Capitol for 300 young people from across the Twin Cities. Attendees participated in trainings for youth, by youth, lead by members of the Minnesota Youth Council. The focus was on helping them identify issues they were passionate about and ways to effectively advocate with members of the Minnesota Legislature. Attendees also participated in a rally and conducted in-person meetings with their local representatives.
- Partnered with Minneapolis Elections and CIRCLE at Tufts University to fund and coordinate a Civic Scholars Cohort with 10 young people charged with completing three projects: 1) pre- and post-surveys of student election judges to measure the long-term civic effects of working as a SEJ; 2) Develop a "Vote by Mail" campaign targeted at young and disengaged voters; 3) write and produce a video for head election judges that highlights why young people become election judges and ways they can help create a mutually supportive environment for election judges of all generations.
- Transformed the Respectful Conversations in Schools teacher training workshop to an online, 3-hour Zoom workshop. Delivered two workshops to teacher licensure students at Gustavus Adolphus College in May 2020.