Leveraging Equity and Access in Democratic Education (LEADE) Joseph Kahne University of California, Riverside John Rogers UCLA Erica Hodgin Mills College

The LEADE Indicator System Survey items for students tied to civic learning opportunities that have been shown to promote desired civic outcomes. Survey items for teachers that attend to supports they receive for providing civic learning opportunities. Focus group protocols and related strategies for gaining more nuanced understandings of youth opportunities and outcomes. Measures that consider in and out of school opportunities. Hard to pursue goals that can’s be specified and measured…

Goals of the LEADE Indicator System Draw attention to desired civic learning opportunities Enable attention to trends regarding the quantity and equality of civic learning opportunities and outcomes. Enable evidence based decision making Enable low-stakes incorporation in district accountability structures and decision making Enable dialog among stakeholders Hard to pursue goals that can’s be specified and measured…

Why?

Political and Civic Engagement: Low and Inequitable 18–24 years old % Voted in 2012 % Volunteered Even among the best educated youth – we maxing out at 50% and at roughly a quarter for volunteering… But very unequal Some College HS Grad No HS Degree Some College HS Grad No HS Degree 2012 Current Population Survey

the good news Figure there may be a need for some good news at this point.

evidence that civic learning opportunities can help

Chicago Study 52 schools 4,057 students Grade 9 -11 Assessed how learning opportunities related to civic commitments Joe Kahne & Sue Sporte Published in AERJ, 2008

Civic Learning Opportunities Discussion of current events Simulations Focus on issues students cared about Service learning

Classroom-Based Civic Learning Opportunities MATTER Civic Community Variables Civic Learning Variables Civic Commitment Effect Sizes Prior Civic Commitments Parent/Student Talk Neighborhood Civic Capital School Sense of Belonging Service Learning Classroom Civic Learning Opportunities

Findings from Seven Districts in CA Pol. Int. Int. Diverse Views Intent to Vote Commit Particip. Vol. Activity Pol Action/Express Civic Skills Info & Discuss. Model Experience Model And we did a similar study in CA where we followed students for 3.5 years after HS and found that HS commitments were predictors of later engagement.

Survey of 19 districts in California Insufficient Opportunities 34% never did service learning in high school 36% never participated in a simulation in high school 68% they learned a lot about the structure and function of government

Inequitable Access to Civic Learning Opportunities Compared to Average SES 9th graders, High SES 9th graders are: 2x more likely to discuss how laws are made 1.9x more likely to report participating in service activities Can note that one also finds difference based on Race and ethnicity and higher achieving students get more. 1.4x more likely to take part in a debate or panel discussion

The Demands of Democracy are also Expanding in the Digital Age

LEADE Initiative Game Plan Gather Input Develop Surveys and qualitative protocols Pilot test – working with districts Develop tools and disseminate Provide support

Thank You Thoughts Questions Comments for more information: . for more information: http://www.civicsurvey.org/

Democracy is precarious here b/c there’s a crisis. Institutions enable democracy… but people must be thoughtful and must participate for democracy to work – and to help our society reach its potential.