Outreach - Civic Learning Partnership
Outreach Program
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye teamed with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson to establish the California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning. The Task Force was charged with making recommendations elevating the status of civic learning in schools, so that all students in California gain the knowledge, skills and values they need to protect and participate in our republic.
The Task Force was overseen by the Power of Democracy Steering Committee. The Power of Democracy Steering Committee, formed in July 2013, was charged with implementing policies on civic education adopted by the Judicial Council. The Power of Democracy Steering Committee accepted the Task Force’s final report, Revitalizing K-12 Civic Learning in California: A Blueprint for Action , released in August 2014.
Pilot County Plan
Butte County is one of six pilot counties selected to create a local Civic Learning Partnership committee to develop and implement a plan for promoting civic learning in their County.
The Butte County Civic Learning Partnership
The Butte County Civic Learning Partnership was formed in February 2015 with the goal of developing civic literacy, disposition and participation of all K-12 students by integrating the Six Proven Practices in Civic Learning into instructional practice and school life, and also by providing civic learning models and resources that can be used by teachers and schools.
For more information about the California Civic Learning Partnership, please visit the Judicial Council’s Power of Democracy .
For information regarding lessons, please visit the California Civic Learning Partnership’s Digital Chalkboard .
Additional Program Information
Click on the topics below for more information.
The California Civic Learning Partnership (CCLP) of Butte County is a nonpartisan committee consisting of approximately sixty well-respected leaders in Butte County. The committee is led by Judge Kristen A. Lucena of the Butte County Superior Court, Tim Taylor, Butte County Superintendent of Schools and Jack Danielson, Regional Vice President of Horace Mann Companies. Together, they assembled a dynamic cross section of community members including fellow judges, the District Attorney, the County Clerk, a County Supervisor, a City Council person, Representatives from Senator’s, Assemblyman’s, and Congressman’s offices, lawyers, business owners, former and current high school principals, members of the League of Women Voters, teach-ers and high school students.
The CCLP of Butte County announced that all fourteen of the county’s fourteen school districts and the Butte County Office of Education adopted civic learning resolutions aimed at supporting a comprehensive civic learning curriculum and programs in all K-12 schools in Butte County, and was the first County in the state in which all school districts have adopted civic learning resolutions. The passage of these fifteen resolutions directly impacts over 31,000 K-12 students countywide.
The CCLP of Butte County developed four programs utilizing three guiding principles:
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To be inclusive of all students in the county; including those in charter schools, private schools, continuation high schools and students attending high school in Juvenile Hall.
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To focus on expanding current programs.
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To provide educators with easy to implement programs and accompanying resources that satisfy existing curriculum standards.
History and Social Science Framework
Democracy Schools
California Teachers - Constitutional Rights Foundation
Educating About the Judiciary - Constitutional Rights Foundation
Primary Source-Based Curriculum - Ronald Reagan Library
Civics and Citizenship Curriculum - Reagan Foundation
USCourts.gov - Educational Resources
"Robust Democracy" - Foundation for Democracy and Justice
Fox and Hounds Daily - Sosan Madanat, Foundation Executive Director
Court Outreach Programs
The members of the CCLP of Butte County focused on developing four distinct programs that would incorporate and interact with the six proven practices in civic education. It is the CCLP’s belief that each of the six proven practices are represented within the four programs. These practices are: classroom instruction in government, history, law and economics; service learning projects tied to the curriculum; simulations of democratic processes; extracurricular activities that have a strong civic dimension; student participation in school governance, and discussions of current events and controversial topics.
To learn about each of our programs, click on the topics below.
Program Description
The CCLP of Butte County believes that it is important to focus on connecting teachers and students with educational resources and announcements through technology. In order to facilitate this concept, the CCLP of Butte County developed the new Civic Education subcommittee. The goal of the subcommittee is to provide teachers with valuable resources and make them aware of potential activities in which their students can engage. The idea is to send a “blast” of information via email and Twitter every two weeks.
The subcommittee plans to create and manage a contact list of all civic teachers and principals in Butte County. Emails that are sent out will contain lists of helpful resources for teachers and highlight of important dates and events such as Constitution Day and Law Day. The content of the emails sent out to educators, will also be posted on the CCLP of Butte County Twitter account.
With multiple mediums of communication, the subcommittee will be able to disseminate valuable information more effectively throughout Butte County.
The Student Voter program was renamed the Civic Education program in September 2016 to include a broader focus on civic learning.
Student Voter Program
Mission
To increase the percentage of young voters by providing students with an understanding of the voting process and their constitutional right. To encourage disengaged students to recognize the importance of their vote and why it matters.
Program Description
The United States is a democracy, governed by the people, for the people, and cannot function without the voice of the people. Young voters represent a critical demographic that will one day run the country and become future lawmakers. It is vital that young Americans realize the importance of their own voices and the privilege one has in the right to vote.
The Student Voter Program will focus on the questions of why young Americans should vote and why their vote makes a difference. The program will encourage disengaged students to participate and understand that every vote makes a difference. By providing a better understanding of how government works, the ultimate goal will be to narrow the thought process of "Why vote?" to "Vote because you can."
Mission
To promote civic engagement with students through business and community leadership mentoring programs. To acquire knowledge of local city council meetings and learn how community issues and problems are solved.
Program Description
By definition, a mentor is someone who forms a relationship, especially with a younger generation, to act as an advisor, a guide, or a trainer and provides knowledge and education through his or her skillset. The Mentoring Civic Engagement Program will focus on mentoring young people through the vital hours of after school programs such as the Boys and Girls Club, establishing a connection with alternative education students at locations such as Fairview High School, and revitalize troubled adolescents that might reside in Juvenile Hall with positive programs to promote individual development and improve self-esteem as well as encourage community involvement and interest in local government. The program will focus on finding teachers and administrators willing to be the initiators or point persons, citizens who are willing to volunteer time and skillsets, and civic leaders such as business owners and government administrators, who are willing to provide resources and facilities for such things as jury duty education programs, mock city council meetings, and field trips to various community facilities and local businesses.
Mission
To provide the mock trial experience to every student in our local school districts. To have each student engaged in the judicial branch by first-hand experience with due process and equal protection.
Program Description
A scholastic mock trial is an academic event imitating the legal process used for teaching students about court trials and the judicial branch. It promotes the comprehension and due process of a trial in the legal system through academic competition by emulation of legal professionals such as attorneys and judges, court staff, and playing the part of the accused or witnesses.
Mission
To bring to life the ideals of great democratic thinkers (philosophers, writers, and leaders) throughout history and to introduce our students to the judicial branch of government in Butte County.
Program Description
Currently there are seventy-five (75) historic Justice Sayings (quotes) etched in stainless steel plates embedded in the floor throughout the new North Butte County Courthouse in Chico. Each saying identifies the source or individual and the date in which it was written or spoken. Quotes range from California Civil Code, to famous presidents, to important political figures, and other popular cultural personalities, all with various thoughts on justice and law.
The Justice Sayings Classroom Unit will focus on encouraging teachers to bring students on a tour of the new courthouse and use the Justice Sayings as an emphasis for future educational opportunities, such as essays, research, and presentations determined by the age groups and grade levels of the students.