Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas today announced that 35 Arizona public schools are being recognized as 2016-17 Arizona Civic Engagement schools by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Excellence in Civic Engagement Program (ECEP). Now in its fifth year, ECEP recognizes and supports the important role schools play in ensuring that students are informed and engaged citizens.
“The most important work we conduct in education is preparing our students to become successful citizens and help perpetuate a prosperous republic,” Superintendent Douglas said. “There are few things I see as more important than helping them understand their civic rights, roles and responsibilities as American citizens. The schools being honored as part of the ECEP program are shining examples of the work being done in Arizona to prepare our students to actively participate in their communities and government when they leave the school system.”
ECEP identifies schools that demonstrate knowledge and effective implementation of the following six proven practices in civic learning: classroom instruction in civics and government, history, economics, geography, law and democracy; service learning linked to classroom learning; experiential learning; learning through participation in models and simulations of democratic processes and procedures; guided classroom discussion of current issues and events; and meaningful participation in school governance.
Public schools from around the state, both traditional and charter, applied for recognition as an Arizona Civic Engagement school with one of the following designations: School of Merit, School of Distinction or School of Excellence. Of those schools, 19 have been recognized as Schools of Merit, eight have been honored as Schools of Distinction and eight have received the most prestigious recognition as Schools of Excellence.
The schools will be formally recognized at an award ceremony at the 5th Annual Civic Learning Conference on March 2, 2018.
For more information about ADE’s Excellence in Civic Engagement Program, please visit www.azed.gov/civicengagement.
Excellence in Civic Engagement Program Award Recipients 2016-17
SCHOOLS OF MERIT
Arizona College Preparatory, Oakland Campus; Chandler Unified School District
Benson High School; Benson Unified School District
Fremont Junior High School; Mesa Public Schools
Imagine Prep- Surprise; Charter
Kino Junior High School; Mesa Public Schools
Kyrene de los Lagos Dual Language Academy; Kyrene School District
Kyrene Traditional Academy – Sureno Campus; Kyrene School District
Mendoza Elementary; Mesa Public Schools
Mesa High School; Mesa Public Schools
Mountain View High School; Mesa Public Schools
Poston Junior High School; Mesa Public Schools
Sandra Day O’Connor High School; Deer Valley Unified School District
Sirrine Elementary School; Mesa Public Schools
Smith Junior High School; Mesa Public Schools
Summit Academy; Mesa Public Schools
Superstition High School; Mesa Public Schools
Taylor Junior High School; Mesa Public Schools
Tres Rios Service Academy; Littleton School District
West Wing School; Deer Valley Unified School District
SCHOOLS OF DISTINCTION
Carson Junior High; Mesa Public Schools
Chandler High School; Chandler Unified School District
Cocopah Middle School; Scottsdale Unified School District
Dobson High School; Mesa Public Schools
East Valley Academy; Mesa Public Schools
Franklin Junior High School; Mesa Public Schools
New School for the Arts and Academics; Charter
Skyline High School; Mesa Public Schools
SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE
Arizona School for the Arts; Charter
Basha High School; Chandler Unified School District
Hamilton High School; Chandler Unified School District
Red Mountain High School; Mesa Public Schools
Rhodes Junior High School; Mesa Public Schools
Safford K-8 Magnet School; Tucson Unified School District
Shepherd Junior High School; Mesa Public Schools
Westwood High School; Mesa Public Schools