1.Professional Development Programs Led by School Districts and Non-Profit Civic Organizations
Illinois currently has outstanding models and programs that promote the advancement of civic education in high schools.
We recommend funding to promote opportunities offered by school districts and
nonprofit organizations in order to introduce and promote promising civic
practices in high schools across the state.
2. Baseline Statewide Audit and Annual Assessment of Civic Progress among Illinois High Schools
Illinois currently has no baseline for assessing the overall level of civic instruction and activities in its high schools.
We recommend funding to create an inaugural statewide audit of civic instruction and activities
to be conducted with all Illinois high schools. We further recommend funding to permit an annual
statewide assessment of civic progress among Illinois high schools. We envision both the initial
audit and the annual assessment as diagnostic, non-evaluative instruments for the promotion of
the civic mission of Illinois high schools.
3. Parallel Efforts to Promote the Civic Mission of Elementary and Middle Schools in Illinois
The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and the signatories of the Civic Blueprint have focused
solely on Illinois high schools.
We recommend funding to promote a parallel effort for promoting the advancement of civic education
in elementary and middle schools statewide.