Every year, the families of more than half a million students in America choose independent schools (private, nonprofit schools that are governed by boards of trustees). There are more than 1,200 independent schools in the US that belong to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and each is unique in terms of its mission and…

For many young people, adult education offers a "second chance" to obtain a high school credential, to develop literacy skills, or to succeed in a new country and a new language. With more support, it can also represent a second chance for youth to develop civic knowledge and skills and lifelong patterns of civic engagement. The aim of…

Electing the U.S. President and Vice President is a basic right and responsibility of every citizen of voting age. Even though it occurs every 4 years, the complexities of electing the president is not a concept that every person understands. This resource book aims to fill the gap in understanding by providing students with a learning-by-doing…

This issue, the fourth in a series on demographic forces shaping U.S. public education, discusses how the aging of the population affects education. The first section, "Shades of Gray," discusses how as the population ages, schools may face tougher competition for public resources, noting how tensions have surfaced in one Florida county.…

Every year on May 1st, Law Day celebrates this country's freedoms and the role of law in protecting and preserving them. Noting that 2000 is the first year of a new millennium, this guide urges planners all over the country to pay special attention to the role of citizens in a diverse democracy. Since the year 2000 is also an election year, the…

In February 2001 the Center for Civic Education conducted the first survey of alumni from the "We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution" program. Three Hundred forty-one alumni, who were eligible to vote in November 2000, participated. Voting and other forms of political engagement formed the core of the study. Since respondents…

To meet the needs of our highly mobile, spatially divided society, a social studies program of mobility citizenship'' should be part of the curriculum. (Author)

Examines how mass media exposure to election campaigns influences beliefs about the closeness of the election race, as well as how these beliefs influence the degree of involvement in the election. Data from the 1968 and 1972 presidential elections are analyzed and indicate that no such relationships exist. (JMF)

Ten years ago the new superintendent of District 11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, learned the proposed budget was $12 million out of balance. Now the district has sound financial backing thanks to improving business practices. (MLF)

Asserts that Vice President Al Gore will be elected in 2000 based on the performance of the Clinton administration. Utilizes the key to the White House, 13 true-or-false diagnostic questions stated as propositions. If five or less are false then the party in power wins. (CMK)

Presents a handbook of activities to sharpen elementary students' observational and critical thinking skills as they monitor national, local, and classroom elections. Activities teach the steps of sound decision making. Students learn to set up complete classroom or schoolwide elections. A poster describes life in the White House. (SM)

Presents an example with multiple solutions that illustrates connections between mathematics and the real world. Considers five possible methods by which the voting for a convention delegate might be performed. (MDH)

After five years of opposition, voters in the Jefferson County, Colorado, School District approved a $325 million bargain. Describes how the district made major management decisions, rebuilt credibility among voters, and ran the campaign. Cites a budget-tracking tool, School Micro-Financial Allocation Study, that helps school districts track how…

Claims that American Indians are being discriminated against by such unfair provincial statutes as the Education Acts and Municipal Election Acts. Advocates equal representation of American Indians on school boards in Canada and policy reforms to allow school board voter eligibility for members of a First Nation that buys services through a…

Issues demographic experts face concerning voting rights litigation are considered, using examples from Garza v County of Los Angeles (California) (1990). Errors and the age of census figures when released mean that court decisions about appropriate population bases and thresholds will continue to vary from one location to another. (SLD)