ISBE Endorses Civic Blueprint

By Shawn Healy

This morning, on Constitution Day, the Illinois State Board of Education passed a resolution endorsing the Civic Blueprint for Illinois High Schools. The text of the resolution follows, and pictured above are four Illinois Civic Mission Coalition members (Carolyn Pereira, center left, and Dee Runaas, far left, of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, Cynthia Woods, second from left, of the Illinois Association of School Boards, and me, Shawn Healy, of the McCormick Freedom Museum) and the State Board of Education, including Board Chair Jesse Ruiz (center-right).

Recognizing the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and the McCormick Foundation
for the Illinois Civic Blueprint for Illinois High Schools

Whereas, the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition is a broad, non-partisan consortium including
educators, administrators, students, universities, elected officials, policymakers and
representatives from the private and non-profit sectors; and

Whereas, the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition is a part of the Campaign for the Civic
Mission of Schools, a national initiative to restore a core purpose of education to prepare
America’s youngest citizens to be informed and active participants in our democracy; and

Whereas, quality civic education opportunities are vital for all students and should be part of
every student’s school experience at every grade level; and

Whereas, the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and the McCormick Foundation sponsored
an Educating for Democracy conference on February 9-10, 2009, attended by members of
the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition, leaders of state civic education organizations, and
educators to advance the cause of civic education in the State of Illinois; and

Whereas, a civic blueprint was created to guide Illinois High Schools in their role to encourage
students to become active and informed citizens of our democracy as part of the Educating for
Democracy conference; and

Whereas, the Civic Blueprint for Illinois High Schools is designed to give educators,
policymakers, parents and all residents of Illinois promising approaches to high school level
civic education, examples of Illinois high schools, educators and students using these
approaches, recommendations for implementing these approaches in high schools across Illinois,
and resources that support schools and communities in promoting the civic engagement of
Illinois High School Students;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Illinois State Board of Education recognizes the
Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and the McCormick Foundation for their efforts in
developing the Civic Blueprint for Illinois High Schools.