DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 185
August 31, 2007
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Announcement
of the Civics |
I am
pleased to announce that the 2007 Virginia General Assembly named the week of
September 16-22, 2007, as Civics Education Week. Please see the full text of House Joint
Resolution 627 at http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HJ627ER.
As you are aware, 2007 marks the 400th
anniversary of the settling of
To support
Civics Education Week, the Commission on Civics Education is hosting a one-day
Civics Summit for division personnel and teachers who work with students in
Civics and Economics and
The
objectives of the
·
provide new content information related to civics education by
recognized experts;
·
explain what materials are available to support the History and Social Science Standards of
Learning; and
·
encourage responsible citizenship through participation in civic-related
activities.
The date
and location for the
Thursday,
September 20, 2007
8:30 a.m. –
3:30 p.m.
Senate Room
3
The Civics
Summit will accommodate 100 participants.
School divisions are invited to send one person. Additional division representatives will be
accommodated as space permits. The
Civics Summit will provide parking in specified lots, lunch, and materials for
participants. Registration will be
conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be completed online at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/civsum/.
I am also pleased to bring
to your attention the recognition of Constitution Day to be celebrated
officially this year on September 17, 2007, which falls during Civics Education
Week. As you know, Congress passed
legislation that requires the implementation of an educational program
pertaining to the United States Constitution, on a date designated by statute officially
as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
This 2004 Congressional initiative is authorized by Section 111 of
Division J of Public Law 108-447 and applies to educational institutions
receiving federal funding from the United States Department of Education
(USED).
In conjunction with Civics
Education Week and Constitution Day, the Virginia Department of Education is
pleased to provide teachers and school divisions with a Web site entitled, Everyday Civics. The Web site highlights civics-related Standards of Learning for elementary,
middle, and secondary teachers, and includes information, pictures, lesson
plans, links, teacher resources, and a discussion board. In addition, the Web site supports the
legislative mandates of the Commission on Civics Education.
Everyday Civics
is available at http://civics.pwnet.org. These copyright-protected materials may be
reproduced for instructional purposes in
All schools may determine
what kind of educational programs are appropriate for their students. Some informational resources pertaining to
the Constitution that may be useful in planning educational activities are
listed on the USED’s Web site at http://www.ed.gov. Go to the search box and enter Constitution
Day. Information about citizenship and
civics is also available at other nonpartisan Web sites including http://BillofRightsInstitute.org.
If you need additional
information about the Civics Education Summit, Civics
Education Week, or Constitution Day, please contact Beverly Thurston,
coordinator, history, social sciences, and international education, Office of
Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Beverly.Thurston@doe.virginia.gov,
or by telephone at (804) 225-2893.
BKCJr/BT