The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools recommends Six Proven Practices that, together, constitute well-rounded civic learning. Those include:
- Classroom Instruction
- Discussion of Current Events and Controversial Issues
- Service Learning
- Extracurricular Activities
- Student Participation in School Governance
- Simulations of Democratic Processes
American Society of Newspaper Editors
ASNE endorses efforts to help news consumers navigate the digital age. News literacy differs from the traditional media literacy curriculum in that the focus is specifically on the definition, credibility and believability of news.
Citizen Advocacy Center
The Citizen Advocacy Center (CAC) is an award-winning, non-profit, non-partisan free community legal organization. CAC’s mission is to build democracy for the 21st Century by strengthening the citizenry’s capacities, resources, and institutions for self-governance.
CAC operates through the use of community lawyers who protect the public’s assets and promote meaningful participation in the democratic process. CAC engages in a holistic approach to building democracy through community organizing, coalition building, legal advocacy, civic education, and litigation to make government more accountable, accessible, and transparent.
CAC is located in downtown Elmhurst, Illinois and is open for the public to:
- obtain free civic resource materials
- ask questions of our community lawyers on matters of public concern
- engage in civic discussion
- learn about local issues
- attend training workshops
- develop skills for participating in civic affairs
Students can participate in summer internships and a variety of community service opportunities, including scholastic journalism endeavors.
CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement, focuses on young people in the United States, especially those who are marginalized or disadvantaged in political life. CIRCLE’s scholarly research informs policy and practice for healthier youth development and a better democracy.
The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition (ICMC) is a broad, non-partisan consortium which includes educators, administrators, students, universities, funders, elected officials, policymakers and representatives from the private and non-profit sectors. Formed in 2004 by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, the ICMC is part of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, a national initiative to restore a core purpose of education to prepare America’s youngest citizens to be informed and active participants in our democracy.
- Civics Course Implementation Blog
- Teaching Civic Engagement
- Teaching Civic Engagement Across the Disciplines (pdf)
- Illinois Civic Blueprint (pdf)
- Directory of Civic Education Organizations
Illinois Journalism Education Association
IJEA is recognized as the state organization in Illinois that serves to assist scholastic journalism teachers and media advisers in promoting high standards in scholastic media and to elevate the status of scholastic media programs in secondary schools across the state.
League of Women Voters (LWV)
The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public.
Mikva Challenge develops youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens who will promote a just and equitable society.
Join NextGen Illinois to learn about the most important issues facing Illinois:
- the environment
- civil rights
Think of ways to change or improve Illinois’ democratic systems, from the inner workings of government to fair elections and civic innovation. Share your values for state government by participating in caucuses, conventions, and help create potential policy solutions.
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation fosters communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens. Their aim is to assist communities, to strengthen democracy, and help ensure that all families and children have the opportunities they need to flourish.
Since 1955, the McCormick Foundation has invested more than $1.5 billion in the areas of journalism, education, social services, civic engagement, and veterans’ programs.
The Roosevelt Institute
The Roosevelt Institute Campus Network, the nation’s largest student policy organization, engages young people in unique, progressive activism that empowers them as leaders and promotes their ideas for change. It is a part of the Roosevelt Institute, an ideas and leadership organization founded in the belief that America should offer opportunity to all.
This go-to education site for students and teachers provides lesson plans and resources related to journalism, news literacy and civic education. Whether you want to learn, teach or create news and information using digital media tools or increase your understanding of the First Amendment and democracy, this site can both inspire and instruct!
Young Invincibles represents the interests of 18 to 34 year-olds and makes sure that our perspective is heard wherever decisions about our collective future are being made. We do this through conducting cutting-edge policy research and analysis, sharing the stories of young adults, designing campaigns to educate on important issue areas, informing and mobilizing our generation and advocating to change the status quo.