Information about Kids Voting Mecklenburg School Representatives role, credit and programs

1. Kids Voting School
Representative Information
September 2010
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

2. Overview
1992: a mock election event
2010: year-long civic learning
Increases K-12 classroom resources
Increases K-12 learning opportunities
Narrows gaps
Longtime CMS partner, other partners
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

3. Overview
More than a mock vote
Helps students in school
– Civics & Economics
– US and World History
– Middle School Social Studies and LA
– K-8 Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies
Builds 21st century knowledge and skills
– Effective leadership and citizenship
– Civic literacy
– Critical thinking, decision-making, information
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

4. School Representative
THANK YOU
Nominated by school leaders (usually)
Responsible for coordinating Kids Voting
efforts at each school
September 2010 - May 2011
Average time spent - 10-20 hours/year
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

5. School Representative
Responsibilities
Connect school to Kids Voting all year
Communicate and educate your school
– Use of Kids Voting classroom resources
– Participation in learning opportunities
Involve school in Kids Voting programs
Share best practices, feedback, ideas
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

6. School Representative
Professional Benefits
Build and exhibit leadership skills
Incorporate 21st century learning
CEU credit, recommendation letters,
references, connections
– National Board Certification, Fellowships, etc.
Exposure to community
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

7. School Representative
CEU Credit
Need minimum of 10 contact hours
Includes
– Attending session
– Educating and communicating through year
– Involving school in Kids Voting programs
– Feedback, ideas and evaluation
MyPD and certificate
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

8. Civic Literacy
Students aren’t born with this information
Have to learn, just like reading
Many kids not getting this in K-8 or home
Creates gaps:
– Academic
– Learning opportunity
– Community engagement
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

9. Civic Literacy
High school students pass a civics course and
End-of-Course test to graduate
– Scores lower on this EOC than the other 4 ‘gateway’
tests (math, english, science, history)
– Large gaps among student scores
– Over 1,000 at-risk students did not pass test in 09-10
– Barrier to graduation
– Lowest scores on questions about state and local
government – all demographics
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

10. Civic Literacy
Interdisciplinary 21st century content and skills
– Reading, writing, math, history, science
– Develop knowledge, strategies and skills
– Connect information and understanding
• Real-life experience to history
• Local to national and global events and issues
– Think critically, evaluate information
– Communicate effectively
– Solve problems, analyze information, make decisions
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

11. Effective Resources and
Learning Opportunities
How can Kids Voting help my students?
Academic achievement
– Civics & Economics, US and World History
– Middle School Social Studies and LA
– K-8 Reading, Writing and Math
Builds knowledge and skills
– Effective leadership and citizenship
– 21st Century Skills
Narrows gaps
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

12. Effective Resources and
Learning Opportunities
Standards-based classroom activities
Easy to use resources
– Flexible lessons, question prompts, activities
– Thematic resources, vocabulary, reading lists
• Constitution Day, Election, Black History Month, Local Gov’t
– NCSCOS correlates to LA, Math, Social Studies
Classroom Resource Library, Civic Learning Center
Web resources through year
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

13. Effective Resources and
Learning Opportunities
Learning opportunities boost comprehension
– Expands classroom learning, builds skills and
knowledge, links students to civic life
Includes
– Election Experience: voting, community service
– YouthCivics program and resources
– Candidate Forum for Youth
– Mecklenburg Youth Voice, Leadership Summit
– Other opportunities through the year
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

14. Connect
How your school connects to Kids Voting
– School Representative
– Department Chair (sometimes)
– Email, news and updates, social media
– Sign up and keep up: www.kidsvoting.org
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt

15. Connect
Connect to Kids Voting
– Amy Farrell, Executive Director
– Email: amy@kidsvoting.org
– Phone: 704-343-6999
– Web: www.kidsvoting.org
– FB: www.facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte
– Twitter: www.twitter.com/kidsvotingclt
– Curriculum password: civicliteracy
www.kidsvoting.org | facebook.com/kidsvotingcharlotte | twitter.com/kidsvotingclt