Please note that the 2011-12 program year brings many changes, as the Center for Civic Education, which funds Project Citizen across the nation, has lost its federal funding for the current fiscal year.  This has resulted in 90% of the staff being laid off, and programming support being scaled back.  Fortunately for California Project Citizen, Terri Richmond – a fantastic teacher and regional district coordinator for Project Citizen – has graciously volunteered to serve as the state coordinator, as my position was one of the many that was eliminated.

Mrs. Richmond is an invaluable Project Citizen asset who has years of experience as an implementing PC teacher and trainer for the program. With this in mind, please forward all future questions and queries to Mrs. Richmond, and feel confident that you are in the most qualified of hands.  Mrs. Richmond can be reached at cawtp35@yahoo.com or (661) 871-5636.

To promote and support Social Studies education, the Donald Perryman Fund for the Social Studies is pleased to announce the availability of mini-grants to teachers, special projects and programs, and social science departments in public and non-public schools ONLY in Los Angeles County. Most recently, Perryman mini-grants have been awarded to teachers/programs in elementary and secondary schools in Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Torrance School Districts.

A limited number of grants are available for programs not to exceed the amount of $1,000; applications for lesser amounts are also greatly encouraged, but all are limited to one per teacher, department, or program. Grantees will be notified in time to begin implementation for Spring, 2012.  APPLICATIONS (not to exceed 3 pages) MUST BE SUBMITTED BY November 1, 2011.

The Perryman Board of Directors requests that applications be e-mailed by the above deadline to: Bonnie Sima, President of the Board of Directors, at bontchr1@hotmail.com

NOTE: Grant winners are expected to share their program/project at the Annual Awards Banquet of the Southern California Social Science Association at the end of May, 2012, at a location T.B.A.

I—APPLICANT INFORMATION:

Check one:   _____Teacher_____Department _____Special Program ______Other

School Name: ___________________________ School District: _________________________

Applicant/ Grant Administrator Name: _______________________ Phone Number: _________

E-mail of Above: ____________________________   Grant Amount Requested_____________

School/Project Address: __________________________________________________________

II—PROJECT SYNOPSIS:

Please provide a project synopsis/abstract of no more than 100 words.

III—PROJECT DETAILS: Note that the Fund will select the winners in this competitive process based on the appropriate and detailed responses to the four sections below with an eye to programs that achieve sustainability, student involvement, and curriculum enrichment of the social sciences

• Clearly describe program/classroom activities for which you intend to use the funds. How will your project achieve sustainability, student involvement, and curriculum development of the social sciences? BE VERY SPECIFIC

• Provide information about the number of students who will be affected by the grant. Include grade levels and/ or courses and any relevant information about the students. (e.g. E.L.L., G.A.T.E., Special Education, etc.).

• Please attach a budget indicating how the requested funds will be spent.

• Also, include any additional information that the Fund might consider in evaluating this grant application.

WHAT: Professional development for upper elementary, middle and high school educators in public, charter, and private schools, as well as youth leaders throughout California.  The 5 day institute will use Project Citizen curricular materials as the primary source of instruction.  The materials are designed to foster active participation in a process-oriented curriculum that teaches students how to monitor and influence public policy in their communities.

WHEN: July 24th – 29th, 2011

WHERE: Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort

EXPENSES PAID: Participants chosen to attend will receive at NO COST:

• Reimbursement of up to $250 for transportation costs to and from the institute (airfare, train ticket, or mileage stipend)
• Lodging and meals at the Embassy Suites in South Lake Tahoe.  Participants will be housed two to a suite.  Suites have a bedroom, a living room with a comfortable pullout bed, and a bathroom between.
• Each participant will receive a classroom set of Project Citizen text and other materials including but not limited to: public policy resources, state standards correlation, pacing guides, etc…
• Continuing education credits will be available from the University of San Diego

DEADLINE: Applications are being accepted through May 16, 2011. -  Link to Application

CONTACT: Tina Ochoa, State Coordinator at ochoa@civiced.org or Kari Coppinger at coppinger@civiced.org

California Council for the Social Studies
Teacher Survey

The Curriculum Committee of the California Council for the Social Studies wants to learn how to best serve the history social-science teachers of California!

If you are a K-5 history-social science teacher in California, please complete this very short online survey before February 9, 2011.   Your input will provide the information they need to help you and your students!

To complete the survey, please go to:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SCTGYDY

For more information,
please contact:
Marsha Ingrao
Instructional Consultant, History Social Science
Tulare County Office of Education
7000 Doe Avenue, Suite A, Visalia, CA  93291
559-651-0680
marshai@ers.tcoe.org

When: February 25-27, 2011

Where: Embassy Suites Hotel, San Francisco Airport – On the Bay

Description: This three day training will engage educators in the use of and incorporation of technology that  compliments the traditional Project Citizen materials and process.  Listed below are just a few of the online sites, resources and tools that participants will learn how to access/use:

• Audacity to help students make their own recordings
• Skype to facilitate long distance meetings
• Survey Monday and Poll Everyone to create surveys
• Google Docs and other sites used to create and store documents, graphs and power point presentations
• Tween Tribune, a safe news site about teen issues

To qualify to attend, participants must have already completed a Project Citizen half or full day training.  Participants must also be committed to submitting at least one student project to a Regional Event.

Target Classes: Project Citizen can be used at any grade level, from 5th – 12th grade, and in nearly any type of setting: traditional classroom, after-school programs, youth groups, etc… Standards correlations and high school pacing guides are available.

Registration: There is no registration fee.  Contact Jan Ruyle Beck, ruyle@civiced.org to register.  The deadline for registration is February 4, 2011.

Sub Costs: For teacher the cost for a substitute on Friday, February 25th, will be reimbursed to your district with appropriate invoicing.

Lodging: Rooms will be provided, at no charge, to attendees at the Embassy Suites Hotel, San Francisco Airport – On the Bay.  150 Anza Blvd, Burlingame, CA 94010.  Instruction for registration will be given after you receive acceptance for the training.

Meals: Most meals are included.  Per Diem will be reimbursed for dinner on Friday and Saturday evening.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen and Assemblymember Joan Buchanan are keynote speakers at the first officially-designated California Civics Day for Teachers seminar at the state capitol on Friday, December 3. Sponsored by Project Citizen California, a program of the Center for Civic Education, the seminar also features constitutional scholars and demonstrations on a wide range of civics classroom materials.

WHAT: California Civics Day for Teachers professional development seminar

WHERE: State Capitol, Room 4202

WHEN: Friday, December 3, from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

WHY: Passed by the California Legislature in 2010, ACR 111 proclaims the first Friday in December as California Civics Day for Teachers. The resolution, sponsored by Assemblymember Buchanan, recognizes the importance of civic education in the state’s classrooms and encourages professional development opportunities focused on civic education on that day.

WHO:

9:15 a.m.—Conference welcome

Joan Buchanan, Assemblymember, 15th District

9:30 a.m.—Public Policy and the Role of the Citizen

Larry Gerston, Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University

1:00 p.m.—Importance of Elections: Every Vote Counts

Debra Bowen, Secretary of State

1:15 p.m.—Free Speech in the Election Process

Alan Brownstein, Professor of Law, University of California Davis School of Law

3:15 p.m.—Public Service: Beyond the Office

Gary K. Hart

Former California Assemblymember, Senator, and Secretary of Education Founder, California State University Institute for Education Reform (ret.)

California Project Citizen is excited to announce two new teacher resources – a Wikispace and a Facebook page! For those of you who are interested in resources to assist you with classroom implementation, please join the state’s wiki space:  https://californiaprojectcitizenteachers.wikispaces.com.   The wiki provides:

1. Digital resources  including videos, research/survey/blogging sites, and digital portfolio options
2. Literacy resources
3. Supplemental materials for each of the 6 Steps of Project Citizen

For those of you interested in an open forum, please see our new California Project Citizen Teachers Page on Facebook.  The mission of the Facebook page is to provide an online forum for Project Citizen practitioners to share resources, best practices, challenges, and successes.

Free Professional Development Seminar

Substitute Reimbursement Funds Available

Registration is now open. Respond by Wednesday, November 24.

The Center for Civic Education is pleased to invite you to a one-day professional development seminar to commemorate the first California Civics Day for Teachers on Friday, December 3, 2010, at the State Capitol.

Sponsored by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (15th District), resolution ACR 111 was passed by the California Legislature to illustrate the importance of civic education in all grade levels and to encourage professional development in civic education among the state’s teachers.

Seminar objectives:

• Provide content information related to civic education by recognized scholars and experts;
• Explain what standards-based materials are available to support civic education in your classroom and school district;
• Encourage responsible citizenship through participation in civic-related activities.

The date and location for the event are as follows:

Friday, December 3, 2010
8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
State Capitol
Sacramento, Calif.

The seminar will accommodate up to 75 participants. School districts are invited to send teachers and/or administrative personnel. The seminar will provide parking, lunch, and materials for participants. First 50 teacher registrations are eligible for substitute teacher reimbursement. Registration is conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis until Wednesday, November 24.

If you need additional information about the California Civics Day for Teachers Seminar, please contact Tina Ochoa, Center for Civic Education, by email at ochoa@civiced.org or by telephone at 818-591-9321.

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Support Civics in Schools and Education Excellence

The Getty House Foundation (GHF) invites applications for civic education grants to benefit 3rd, 4th and/or 5th grad students in schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).  A total pool of $25, 000 in grants, with up to $1,000 for single applications and up to $3,000 for joint applications, is available.

As a non-profit organization with a mission to advance and advocate civics education, GHF intends its Civic Education Grants to assist with efforts to encourage and implement school-based learning in civics and local government, and to inspire civic participation through education.

Grants can be used, for example, for classroom instruction in civics education, government and/or Los Angeles political history; classroom projects in community service and/or volunteerism; activities for student civic engagement; or professional development in civic education.

Deadline: Applications must be completed and received by Friday, November 12, 2010.  Applicants must use the GHF’s online application, which is available at www.GettyHouse.org.  Please review eligibility and funding criteria before applying.