Commons– Digital Town Square National Impact Report 2016-2017 School Year

Commons – Digital Town Square Program Reach For the 2016-2017 School Year Commons – Digital Town Square brings the concepts of American Government and civic engagement to life with primary sources, engaging videos and exciting games. EVERFI and our partners provide an immersive learning environment to communities across the country at no charge to schools or districts, ensuring that students receive the tools necessary to become knowledgeable and engaged 21st century citizens. Your Impact 28,188 Students 738 Schools 106,836 Hours of Learning The Commons course covers everything from the Bill of Rights and the branches of government to building a national budget. Students are exposed to a variety of ways in which they can get involved in the local, national and global communities. After completing the Commons course, students have a more thorough understanding of how their government operates and are better prepared to be active citizens in their communities.

Civic Engagement Commons – Digital Town Square brings concepts of American Government and civic engagement to life.  Commons students expect to be active and engaged citizens in the future. 82% of students say they intend to vote when they turn 18. But many intend to engage in a variety of other civically-minded activities in the next five years. The most common forms of intended civic activity are volunteering time in their community and joining a group that helps their community. More than three-quarters of students expect to volunteer time in their communities in the next 5 years.

Most students recognize their power as politically active citizens: Active Citizenship Through Commons, students learn about the interplay between local government, federal government, the justice system and the media. After taking Commons, students are more likely to say they intend to engage in a variety of political activities that touch upon local and national politics. % saying they certainly/probably will __ in the next 5 years Most students recognize their power as politically active citizens: 67% Of students are confident in their ability to discuss topics that are meaningful to them. 56% Of students said it is important for me to contribute to solving problems in my community. 53% Of students are confident in their ability to make real change regarding issues that are important to them.

From Students and Educators “The games were something I especially enjoyed about this course. They helped reinforce government concepts in a way that was fun yet effective, helping me to remember what I've learned while I enjoy learning it. I feel that what I've learned in this course can help guide me in my role as an active citizen in my community. Thanks to this course, I feel that I have the knowledge of how to make informed decisions when choosing government leaders and how to stay informed about the important issues in my country.” “The learning experience was awesome. The videos and lessons were effective and gave me the opportunity to learn independently.” Student Washington County, Florida “Applying the knowledge I have acquired in this course to my everyday life will be very easy. I am about to be out on my own, in a sense, I will need to be active in my community and the world, instead of watching my parents do it. By learning these necessary skills, I will be able to contribute to the world around me in an effective way.” Student Georgia From Teachers Student Pittsburg Independent School District, Texas “Content was great. Engagement of students was great. Resources were excellent.” 93% of teachers would recommend the EVERFI course they used this year to a fellow teacher. Middle School Social Studies Teacher Mississippi