Historical Highlights

  • THE UTAH COALITION FOR CIVIC, CHARACTER AND SERVICE LEARNING WAS ORGANIZED AFTER A DELEGATION FROM UTAH attended the FIRST CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIC EDUCATION in 2003

  • THE PURPOSE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE WAS TO EXPLORE THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE NATION'S SCHOOLS, K-12, AND TO FOSTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

  • CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCES ON CIVIC EDUCATION SPARKED A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON CIVIC EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN AMERICA

  • THEY ALSO INSPIRED FURTHER MOMENTUM TO AFFECT POLICY CHANGE

  • STATE ACTION PLANS WERE DEVELOPED AND IMPROVED UPON EACH YEAR

  • A COALITION WAS FORMED IN UTAH WHICH INCLUDED MANY  ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO CIVIC, CHARACTER AND SERVICE LEARNING EDUCATION

  • 2003 CONFERENCE DELEGATES SPONSORED THE CIVIC AND CHARACTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS BILL
    • "FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM'S CORE MISSION AND CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOULD BE TAUGHT IIN CONNECTION WITH REGULAR SCHOOL WORK."
       
  • 2005 CONFERENCE DELEGATES SPONSORED THE COMMISSION ON CIVIC AND CHARACTER EDUCATION BILL
     
  • CREATED A SEVEN-PERSON COMMISSION WITHIN THE UTAH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
     
  • $50,000 APPROPRIATION FOR FIVE YEARS
     
  • MISSION OF THE COMMISSION IS TO:
     
    • PROVIDE LEADERSHIP FOR THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO CIVIC AND CHARACTER EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY
    • MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SCHOOL BOARDS AND ADMINISTRATORS
    • TO PROMOTE COALITIONS AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT FOSTER INFORMED AND CIVIL PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP
       
  • ACTIVITIES:
     
  • FIRST DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY HOSTED BY THE COALITION
    • HELD AT STATE CAPITOL IN 2004
    • DAVID SKAGGS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM AT THE COUNCIL FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
    • CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UTAH SUPREME COURT FACILITATED A PANEL DISCUSSION
    • STUDENT AND TEACHER WORKSHOPS WERE HELD
    • UTAH LAW-RELATED EDUCATION AND UTAH CAMPUS COMPACT PROVIDED  TRAINING TO HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
  • SECOND ANNUAL DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY
    • HELD AT WELLS FARGO BUILDING IN 2005
    • CHARLES HAYNES FROM THE FREEDOM FORUM, FIRST AMENDMENT CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
    • CHIEF JUSTICE FACILITATED A PANEL DISCUSSION
    • UTAH 3 RS PROJECT PARTICIPATED---TEACHER AND STUDENT WORKSHOPS; STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A TOWN MEETING
    • COALITION MEMBERS HOSTED PROGRAM DISPLAYS  AND PROVIDED RESOURCES
       
  • THIRD ANNUAL DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY
    • HELD AT RICE ECCLES STADIUM IN 2006
    • LARRY SABATO, POLITICAL ANALYST AND DIRECTOR FOR THE UVA CENTER FOR POLITICS WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
    • STUDENTS FACILITATED A DIALOGUE AT DINNER TABLES
    • TEACHER AND STUDENT WORKSHOPS PLANNED BY COALITION MEMBERS, INCLUDING UTAH LAW-RELATED EDUCATION PROJECT (WE THE PEOPLE) AND UTAH CAMPUS COMPACT
    • 100 STUDENTS MET AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ALUMNI HOUSE FOR THE DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY STUDENT TRAINING
    • TEACHERS MET WITH LARRY SABATO AT THE UTAH STATE BAR
    • COALITION MEMBER DISPLAYS OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES
       
  • FOURTH ANNUAL DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY
    • HELD AT RICE ECCLES STADIUM IN 2007 
    • LEE HAMILTON TO BE FEATURED SPEAKER  
    • THE EVENT WILL EXPAND ACTIVITIES TO INVOLVE MORE EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS
    • OTHER ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR 2007
       
  • SUMMER TEACHER AND PRE-SERVICE TEACHER WORKSHOP ON THE BRANCHES OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
    • SPONSORED BY THE COALITION AND UTAH STATE OFFICE OF EDUCATION
    • HELD JUNE 25-27, 2007 AT THE UTAH STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX,  THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS, GOVERNOR'S MANSION AND UTAH LAW AND JUSTICE CENTER
       
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HIRED
     
  • PRESS CONFERENCE HELD WITH THE COMMISSION ON CIVIC AND CHARACTER EDUCATION AND THE UTAH COALITION FOR CIVIC, CHARACTER AND SERVICE LEARNING TO ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP AND GIVE ACTIVITIES A HIGHER PROFILE
     
  • SUMMER CONFERENCE FOR 2008 IN THE PLANNING
     
  • WEBSITE, NEWSLETTERS AND BROCHURE DEVELOPED