Civic literacy in the 21^st century goes beyond the annual essay contest of yesterday, and these guides and examples demonstrate a new depth.

As defined by the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills, civic literacy includes:

• Participating effectively in civic life through knowing how to stay informed and understanding governmental processes
• Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national and global levels
• Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions

One of the organizations "snapshot" resources includes examples of how accountability, defined as demonstrating diligence and a positive work ethic, can support civic literacy in grades 9-12. In order to become informed, engaged and politically active citizens, students must understand how their actions can affect the communities in which they live. As students learn about and work on civic issues that are immediately relevant to them, their families and their communities, they learn to be accountable for their actions.

This P21 snapshot describes programs at three high schools with an example of professional development focused on Civic Literacy, an example of an implementation of a 9-12 Civic Literacy curriculum and a video clip of student reflections on accountability in a civic engagement project.

Professional Development Resource

The Center for Civic Education aims to promote and encourage responsible citizenry that is committed to democratic values and is actively engaged in the practice of democracy in the United States and other countries. As part of this mission, the Center provides professional development opportunities for K-12 educators to incorporate civic education into their teaching. The Center for Civic Education runs a series of trainings, workshops, content seminars, institutes, and conferences that teachers can participate in nationwide. Through participation in these professional development initiatives, teachers can gain new ideas about interdisciplinary, student-centered instruction that draws from real world material. For example, Project Citizen is a professional development institute that introduces teachers to public policy and policymaking so that they can better understand its connection to civic engagement. As they participate in the training, teachers engage in a process-oriented curriculum that fosters student participation in monitoring and influencing public policy in their communities.

For more information, see:

• The Center for Civic Education
• The Center for Civic Education professional development resources

Implementing a Civic Literacy Curriculum

John Elfrank, a Social Studies teacher at Murray Bergtraum High School in New York City, created a semester-long, high school civic engagement curriculum called "Participation in Government." Three projects build on each other, culminating in a student-centered action research project. Students begin by exploring the importance of government, then researching how citizen movements have changed the world, and finally, participating in the political process through action research. After identifying a citizen movement issue, students research and plan a course of engagement to address that issue, document their process, and present their work to the class. The curriculum satisfies the New York state requirement for a semester-long government class and is designed to meet the state's civics, citizenship and government standard.

For more information see:

• Documentation of John Elfrank-Dana's Participation in Government curriculum
• Participation in Government student blogs

Student Reflections on Accountability in a Civic Engagement Project

Giving students the opportunity to choose an area of interest, the responsibility to independently investigate civic issues, and the expectation of keeping track of their own progress, encourages them to become accountable for their work and their own learning. In this video clip, Elfrank's students reflect on their experience in the "Participation in Government" class. They describe how they have changed their work habits in terms of being diligent in producing and turning in student work.

Source: Partnership for 21^st Skills, How Can Accountability Skills Support Civic Literacy Education at the 9-12 Level?

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