End of summer Resolute … This and that, as we approach Labor Day …
Summer is the Slow News Season
Gentle readers, people go away in summer. Policymakers wrap up legislative sessions. Hard-hitting activists go on tours of the Vineyards of Europe. Even your Civics Alliance correspondent has been enjoying the rains of Arizona. (No, really.) Expect more frequent Resolutes after Labor Day …
Ohio: Hiring Executive Directors of Reform Centers!
- University of Toledo, Director of the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership
- Miami University, Executive Director, Miami University Center for Civics, Culture and Society
Oregon: Join the Social Science Standards Professional Learning Advisory Committee
The Oregon Department of Education presumably wants the usual suspects to provide input as they craft (wretchedly politicized) new social studies standards. But if you’re involved in Oregon K-12 education, and want to try to lessen the damage, consider applying for the committee.
Wisconsin: DPI releases civics and social studies scope and sequence
Wisconsin DPI releases civics and social studies scope and sequence. We in Civics Alliance central will be examining this. But Wisconsinites (Wisconsonians?) should look to see what exactly will be taught in the Wisconsin public schools.
CAST: Universal Design for Learning
A Virginia delegate just introduced a bill that “Requires the Board of Education to develop all Standards of Learning assessments using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.” Which is what now? Well, CAST’s Universal Design for Learning is yet another pedagogy that incorporates progressive politics—e.g., Cultivate multiple ways of knowing and making meaning. If this UDL has gotten to the stage of being mentioned in a state bill, that probably means it’s already gotten a fair bit of traction in K-12 education policy. Education reformers should keep an eye out for appeals to UDL, and know that it is another euphemism for progressive politics and progressive pedagogy.
Academics Against Boycotts
Opposed to the AAUP’s decision that academic boycotts are OK? Follow the link to sign Against Academic Boycotts.
Presidential Politics
The Nation’s Largest Teachers’ Union Endorses Kamala Harris for President, but some professors argue for voting for Donald Trump.
Recent Publications
- Philanthropy Roundtable, Civics Playbook. Philanthropy Roundtable very kindly has mentioned the Civics Alliance in its Civics Playbook.
- Center for American Institutions, Civic Education in the Military. “This report details how extensive DEI training is in our military.”
- The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, Blueprint for Reform: General Education.
- Pam Benigno, reporting from Colorado, No notice or opt-out for sexually charged social studies?
Testimony
Would you like to be on a list of people prepared to give testimony in favor of a state bill to reform civics education? If so, please get in touch with me: randall@nas.org. We need people ready to testify in all 50 states—ideally, with some personal tie to the education system, but testimony from any citizen would be good.
State Social Studies Standards: What’s Coming Up
- Alaska: Alaska’s Department of Education contracted with the American Institutes for Research to provide draft social studies standards. These draft standards were scheduled to be submitted to the State Board of Education and posted for public comment in March of 2024.
If you have news we don’t please write in and say! But as far as we can tell, that is the state of play for the present moment.
Civics Alliance Now Has Ten State Affiliates
The Civics Alliance is building a network of state affiliates—groups dedicated to removing action civics in their states, whom we will list on our website. Our newest state affiliate is Nebraska, run by Dennis Applegarth. Welcome, Dennis and Nebraska! We now have ten affiliates, in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas. If you would like to form such an organization, or suggest an existing organization, please get in touch with David Randall (randall@nas.org).
Monthly American Birthright Zoom Meeting
The Civics Alliance will have its monthly Zoom session devoted to social studies standards reform on Monday, September 9, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Please email randall@nas.org if you would like to join these monthly Zoom meetings.
Social Studies Standards Revision Schedule
2024/Current: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky (partial), Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
2025: Kentucky, Nebraska, Texas
2026: Colorado, Maryland, North Dakota, South Carolina
2027: Hawaii, Kansas
2029: Louisiana
2030: Minnesota
2031: Illinois
No Revision Currently Scheduled: California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington.
Please email David Randall (randall@nas.org) if you are interested in further information about your state’s social studies revision process, and what you can do to participate.
Continuing Priorities: Federal Legislation
At the federal level, the Civics Secures Democracy Act threatens to impose action civics nationwide.
The Civics Bill Tracker
Civics Alliance supporters may now use the Civics Bill Tracker to track all proposed federal and state legislation related to civics.
Public Action
We encourage Civics Alliance supporters to inform the public and policymakers about the stakes and consequences of action civics bills.
David Randall is the Executive Director of the Civics Alliance and Director of Research at the National Association of Scholars
Photo by Patrick Robert Doyle on Unsplash
