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Civic Literacy Print
  • Participating effectively in civic life through knowing how to stay informed and understanding governmental processes
  • Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national and global levels
  • Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions

Additional resources on civic literacy: 

1.   The Maryland Center for Civic Education

Highly regarded nonprofit organization.

2.   CIRCLE

Since 2001, CIRCLE has conducted, collected, and funded research on the civic and political participation of young Americans. CIRCLE is based in the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy and is funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and Carnegie C.

3.   Welcome To the Center For Civic Education

Today, the Center administers a wide range of critically acclaimed curricular, teacher-training, and community-based programs. The principal goals of the Center's programs are to help students develop (1) an increased understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded, (2) the skills necessary to participate as effective and responsible citizens, and (3) the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict.

4.   Civics Quiz

Online civics quiz - for high school students

5.    Learn how Governments Around the World Operate

Everything to do with social studies in a child friendly environment, with age appropriate links.

6.    Related Resources - Behavioral Studies/Social Sciences

Lesson plans for civics education

7.    What if civics class were an online game? | csmonitor.com

Thought provoking article that describes a gaming approach to civics education.

8.    Close Up Foundation Civics Education | Civics Resources

The Close Up Foundation is the nation's largest nonprofit (501(c)(3)), nonpartisan citizenship education organization. Since its founding in 1970, Close Up has worked to promote responsible and informed participation in the democratic process.

9.    U.S. Government Info - Resources

About.com resource page on U.S. government

10.  NAEP Civics Subject Area

NAEP Civics results

11.  Civics Online - [Re]Envisioning the Democratic Community

Civics Online is a collaborative, online project providing a rich array of primary sources, professional development tools, and interactive activities to help in the teaching of civics.

12.  Lessons in American Civics: The Legislative Branch

Online civics curriculum for immigration course

13.  The Common Good  

This site brings together a wide range of resources for learning about civics and citizenship. You will find materials for schools, for formal post secondary study and for anyone interested in the field.

14.  Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools

The Campaign for the Civic Mission Schools was created to increase the quality and quantity of civic learning in our schools, grades K-12. The Campaign works to bring about changes in state, local, and national policy that promote civic learning and implementation

15.  Civic Education Volume--Preface and Contents

The Civic Education volume is designed specifically for language teachers who are turning toward content-based instruction to promote content learning and language learning in their classes.

16.  Civnet Website

CIVNET is an online resource and service for civic education practitioners (teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum designers), as well as scholars, policymakers, civic-minded journalists, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoting civic education all over the world.

17.  ISCV

Good source material for civics education The Institute for the Study of Civic Values was established in Philadelphia in 1973 to build a new politics of community focused on the fulfillment of America's historic civic ideals.