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Letter to the editor published in Chicago Tribune on Civics Education, HB4025 and HB4024

4/21/2015

Letter: Save our democracy

Illinois is one of 10 states that doesn’t require a civics course to graduate high school despite research that civic learning translates into civic action.

State Rep. Deborah Conroy (D-Villa Park) introduced legislation to have Illinois join the majority of states that mandates civics. House Bill 4025 recommends a civics education requirement for Illinois public high schools, and House Bill 4024 requires the State Board of Education to ensure that teachers have access to professional development activities in civics education.

Studies show that students who receive effective civics learning are more likely to vote and discuss politics at home, four times more likely to volunteer and work on community issues, and are more confident to speak publicly and communicate with elected representatives. In fact, high-quality civics learning contributes to lower dropout rates. These statistics are true even with variables for income and race.

Civics learning promotes civic equality, meaning that poor, minority, urban or rural students perform considerably higher for having received civics learning than their peers do. Comprehensive civics education that aims to reach all public school students would likely decrease the “civic achievement gap” evidenced by the research.

A Paul Simon Institute poll revealed that more than 70 percent of Illinoisans favor a high school civics course requirement for graduation. Moreover, the integrity and health of democracy in Illinois depends on the active, informed and effective participation of Illinoisans. Everyone gains from a civically literate population where individuals have the knowledge, disposition and skills to make a difference in their communities and hold government accountable.

— Maryam Judar, executive director and community lawyer, Citizen Advocacy Center, Elmhurst

Published in Chicago Tribune online 4/20/15 and Voice of the People in print 4/21/15

Also published in the
State Journal Register
Letter: Support bill requiring high school civics classes in Illinois

Urgent Action: Please file witness slip for civics education HB4025-HFA2

4/15/2015

Witness slips must be submitted before 10 a.m.
on Thursday, April 16th, 2015

Please join CAC to #BringBackCivics by filing a witness slip as a proponent by following the steps below. Thank you in advance for supporting civics education in Illinois!

Go to www.ilga.gov

1. Click GA Dashboard (red link on left side under Reports & Inquiry)

2. Click House (left column)

3. Click Committee Hearings (drop down menu after clicking "House")

4. Click Week (on the top bar)

5. Click Committee Name (Hint: Click word "Committee" at top of column to put Committee names in alphabetical order)

HB 4025 Committee Name: Elementary & Secondary Committee: School Curriculum and Policies Committee

6. Click on the icon that looks like a sheet of paper at far right of page to view hearing details

7. Scroll to find HB4025-HFA2 and click on the icon at far right of page (pencil and paper) to create witness slip for that bill. There may be multiple pages.

8. Fill in all fields in Section I (unless marked optional). May put "none" for firm/business or agency and title. Or can put "Citizen" or "Concerned Citizen" for title. Section II may not apply.

9. Section III: Position Click Proponent to support this amendment

10. Section IV: Testimony: Check Record of Appearance Only -- unless you will fax a written statement to 1-217-557-2165

11. Type the text, check box: I agree to the ILGA terms of agreement, click Create Slip

12. To create another witness slip: Click Create Another Witness Slip and begin again at Step 2

FAQ for Filing Witness Slips

Note: Registration is not required to submit a witness slip. However, to keep an online log of the witness slips you've submitted, you must register from the home page by clicking on "My Legislation." The "My Legislation" tab is along the top or on the left side under Reports and Inquiry -- just above GA Dashboard. Registration will also automatically populate many of the fields on each witness slip you submit.

Quick Links

#BringBackCivics Fact Sheet

Letter to Representative Conroy from McCormick Tribune Foundation and Chicago Community Trust

House Bill 4025
aims to promote greater civic learning through a required civics course for all Illinois high school students.

FAQ for Filing Witness Slips

Task Force Final Report and Public Comments

What is happening with Civics Education in Illinois?

4/2/2015

We last told you that HB 4024 and HB 4025 passed out of their respective committees. Before they go to the House floor, representatives are writing amendments to strengthen the bills' language. The Citizen Advocacy Center will keep you informed of developments. In the meantime, this infographic fact sheet will assist you in sparking conversation on the need for Civics Education in Illinois.

Download the flyer in pdf format to print or distribute.

Civics Education in Illinois Infographic
File Size:	306 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

#BringCivicsBack Overview of the need for civics education in IL and currently proposed legislation

3/26/2015

#BringCivicsBack is a brief two-page document with supporting links that includes:
Overview
The Need for Civic Education
We Know Quality Civic Education Works
The Proposed Legislation
Meeting the Need for Teacher Professional Development
Time to Act - Here's What You Can Do

#BringCivicsBack is a document written by Shawn Healy, Chair, Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and Chair of the Illinois Task Force on Civic Education.

Financial support for civics education professional development secured in public-private partnership

3/26/2015

Read the letter to Representative Deborah Conroy from the President and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the President and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust describing the commitment of the corporate and foundation communities to supporting a public-private partnership to provide funds needed for professional development for a three-year transition period.

How to file a witness slip -- 2 civic education bills in house committee tomorrow

3/24/2015

Witness slips must be submitted before 8 a.m. on Wed. March 25, 2015

Go to www.ilga.gov

1. Click GA Dashboard (red link on left side under Reports & Inquiry)

2. Click House (left column)

3. Click Committee Hearings (drop down menu after clicking "House")

4. Click Week (on the top bar)

5. Click Committee Name (Hint: Click word "Committee" at top of column to put Committee names in alphabetical order)
HB 4024 Committee name: Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing Oversight
HB 4025 Committee Name: Elementary & Secondary Committee: School Curriculum and Policies Committee

6. Click on the icon that looks like a sheet of paper at far right of page to view hearing details

7. Scroll to find the bill number and click on the icon at far right of page (pencil and paper) to create witness slip for that bill. There may be multiple pages.

8. Fill in all fields in Section I (unless marked optional). May put "none" for firm/business or agency and title. Or can put "Citizen" or "Concerned Citizen" for title. Section II may not apply.

9. Section III: Position Click Proponent or Opponent -- CAC supports these two bills

10. Section IV: Testimony: Check Record of Appearance Only -- unless you will fax a written statement to 1-217-557-2165

11. Type the text, check box: I agree to the ILGA terms of agreement, click Create Slip

12. To create another witness slip: Click Create Another Witness Slip and begin again at Step 2

Call us if you need help navigating the system!

Note: Registration is not required to submit a witness slip. However, to keep an online log of the witness slips you've submitted, you must register from the home page by clicking on "My Legislation." The "My Legislation" tab is along the top or on the left side under Reports and Inquiry -- just above GA Dashboard. Registration will also automatically populate many of the fields on each witness slip you submit.

Civic Education Bills Introduced by Rep. Conroy

3/5/2015

Based on the recommendations of the Illinois Task Force on Civic Education, Representative Deb Conroy introduced two new bills in the Illinois House to strengthen civic education in Illinois on Friday February 27, 2015. When introducing the legislation, Rep. Conroy said: "Many students graduate without even basic knowledge of current events and how to become active members of their communities."

House Bill 4025 aims to promote greater civic learning through a required civics course for all Illinois high school students.

House Bill 4024 supports teacher training, the greatest area of need for implementation of a new course. This new measure ensures that professional development activities align with best practices in civics education.

As these bills move through the legislature, we'll keep you informed of future developments and how you can help.

Rep. Conroy's press release announcing House Bills 4025 and 4024

Press release from above published in the Chicago Tribune

Task Force Final Report and Public Comments

About the Illinois Task Force on Civic Education

The Task Force was established by the legislature to study the status of civic education in Illinois and make recommendations for improvement.
The Task Force was comprised of legislators, educators, school administrators, and community leaders from across the state. The findings of the Task Force showed a strong need to strengthen civic education in our state.

CAC was instrumental in advocating for the Task Force and CAC Executive Director Maryam Judar served as a member.
Illinois is one of only ten states in the country that does not require a civics or government course to graduate from high school.

Action Alert: Civic education needs your help

1/22/2015

View this in an email newsletter format here

Background

Last week, Senator Lamar Alexander, Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) released his draft of a Re-Authorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Sadly, there is nothing in the Bill for Civics, History, or Social Studies. Your immediate action can help remedy this.

We are proposing that Chairman Alexander and his Committee adopt a provision establishing a competitive grant program for civics that was offered by Sen. Mike Enzi and adopted and passed by the HELP Committee in 2011.

Our U.S. Senators have an opportunity to weigh-in now by contacting Sen. Alexander and ranking Member Patty Murray of the HELP Committee. Let's let them know what we want!

What you can do NOW -- before Feb 2nd

Contact Senator Durbin and Senator Kirk using the sample email text below as a guide. Below are some tips:

Please personalize your role in the first sentence.
Be sure to include the key language (italicized) to be reinserted into the Bill.
Feel free to add additional comments.

Paste your final email message into the message field of the Senators' websites at the links above.

Sample email text below -- personalize, cut, and paste

Topic: Education
Subject: URGENT ESEA Request

Dear Senator (insert Senator's last name):
As a (choose one: teacher, parent, student, concerned citizen), I am writing to urge you to include competitive grants to support innovative, engaging teaching of Civics and American History in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

As the Senate considers reauthorization of ESEA, please contact Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray to urge that they include the following language, which was originally drafted by Senator Enzi and included in the 2011 Committee-passed bill (with an amendment to add American History, indicated by [...]):

"Insert, in the section on Programs of National significance:

Grants shall be made to support developing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating for voluntary school use innovative, research-based approaches to civic learning [and American History], which may include hands-on civic engagement activities, for low-income elementary school and secondary school students, that demonstrate innovation, scalability, accountability, and a focus on underserved populations."

Civic learning is vital to our nation's future. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has rightly described a "crisis" in civic learning. Please help fix this crisis by providing a small amount of Federal funding to help each state prepare the next generation to assume their rights and responsibilities as engaged and informed citizens of our Republic.

Sincerely,

(Insert your name)

Addendum to Civic Education Task Force Final Report to IL General Assembly Posted

1/5/2015

The addendum includes public comments made to the task force at the four meetings held throughout the state as well as written comments. The addendum as well as the final report can be read here: http://www.isbe.net/career/html/CETF.htm

Public hearings on civics in Illinois' public schools

9/18/2014

1 Comment

The Illinois Task Force on Civic Education will hold four public hearings throughout the state this fall. They will begin in Chicago on October 13th and conclude in Carbondale a few weeks later on November 6th. The specific dates and venues are identified below. Each hearing is scheduled from 4-6pm.

·         Monday, October 13: University of Illinois-Chicago, Student Center East
·         Wednesday, October 15: Willowbrook High School, Villa Park
·         Tuesday, October 21: Lanphier High School, Springfield
·         Thursday, November 6: Carbondale Community High School
See complete addresses for above locations here.

Each public hearing will begin with an overview of the Public Act creating the Task Force and the charges of its membership. A brief presentation of task force findings and recommendations will follow, and the balance of the hearing will be devoted to public comment.

Comments may be submitted via email at CETFR@isbe.net until November 7th. Please provide concise comments and include your first and last name and city as well as your title and affiliation (if applicable). Comments will be published.

Please help spread the word to your contacts in the education world (students teachers, school leaders, and parents), and plan to participate in as many of the hearings as possible.

Guidelines for preparing, writing and giving testimony are available here. 