The Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy (PennCORD) is a unique union of educational, advocacy, and governmental organizations that are committed to improving civic learning for students in grades K-12. The Coalition's mission is to encourage the creation of local civic learning policy to implement state standards in every school district by:

• motivating community advocacy for better civic education and
• supporting educators across PA with resources and training

The Coalition is led by the National Constitution Center, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, The Office of the Governor, First Lady Marjorie O. Rendell, and thePennsylvania Department of Education.

The strength of America's representative democracy depends on the informed participation of its people. To sustain the democracy, we must reverse the serious decline in young people's participation and prepare them to do their part. The most effective way to prepare young people for their role as citizens is to provide opportunities for civic learning in schools. This is the historic mission of our schools, and standards for civic learning have been adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy is working to ensure that these standards are implemented in the classroom.

PennCORD Plan of Action

Grassroots advocacy by students, parents, the community, and the media, in concert with state-level support, will lead to changes in policy by school boards and changes within classrooms by teachers.

PennCORD Projects

Statewide Survey

PennCORD conducted and will be sharing the results this fall of a survey for students and teachers to create a baseline assessment of the state of civic learning in Pennsylvania. The survey will measure student' knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward civics learning, as well as the time and resources currently devoted to civics both in and out of the classroom.

Pilot Schools

PennCORD is partnering with eleven current schools to pilot civics learning approaches and evaluate their effectiveness in improving students' civics knowledge and attitudes These schools serve as models for implementing civics curriculum across the state and PennCORD mini-grants allow them to explore creative projects.

Advocacy

PennCORD advocates for changes in local and state policy to improve and expand civic learning opportunities in Pennsylvania schools. This advocacy work is done through media and public relations, meetings with district administrators and state-level policymakers, and through the efforts of students in promoting the civic mission of schools within their districts. The new youth advocacy bookle, 26, is going to be an important tool in this effort for years to come.

Teacher Resources

PennCORD is dedicated to providing the best civic learning resources and training to teachers. Many of our partners already offer outstanding programs and materials for students and teachers. PennCORD is compiling a database of best practices, aligned to state standards, and all the information needed to implement the programs in the classroom.

Youth Advisory Board

PennCORD has also assembled a Youth Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from regional civics youth groups across the state. These students support our mission by working at the district level to advocate for improved civics learning in their schools. They are also planning a youth summit on civics learning and skills in using the developed advocacy tools of 26 that other young people can use.

For more information or to get involved, contact Anne Spector, PennCORD Manager.

Our Partners

PennCORD is a member of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. The Campaign is managed by the Council for Excellence in Government in partnership with the Academy for Educational Development. Initial funding for the Campaign came from Carnegie Corporation of New York and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Our partners include businesses, nonprofit organizations, education associations, and individual teachers and administrators. Ongoing support of the PennCORD initiative is provided by the Annenberg Foundation.

News: [2006-06-06] First Lady Marjorie O. Rendell Announces PennCORD Pilot Schools.

News: [2006-01-20] PA School Board Association Adopts Resolution.

News: [2005-10-27] PA Students Learn About Civic Duty at Advocacy Forum Hosted by First Lady Marjorie O. Rendell, PennCORD.

The files below are all in Adobe Acrobat PDF format unless otherwise noted.

Downloads

• Founding Partner PennCORD Talking Points (Fall 2006)
• Model Proclamation (also available as a Word document )

Related Materials

• National Governers Association statement
• NCLB study

  Study to Assess the Impact of the No Child Left Behind Initiative on Social Studies Instruction in the Commonwealth

• Social studies get short shrift

  No Child Left Behind Act doesn't include history, government. (note: free registration required)

• Social Awareness on the Back Burner

  Withering social studies instruction in elementary schools has experts biting their fingernails, debating testing and seeking partnerships

• A curriculum push reaches beyond social studies class (note: free registration required)
• Students moved to help tsunami victims
• Boone High adds required science course

  Maybe this problem ought to be on the ACT: How many science and social studies classes can one student cram into four years of high school and still have room for electives like band?

• CNN Special Classroom Edition

  CNN 25: Innovators Educator Guide

• Current News from NCSS

Links

• Pennsylvania Department of Education - Social Studies
• Civic Mission of Schools