OVERVIEW

We the People: Project Citizen leads students through the real public policymaking process, giving them a hands-on study of governmental institutions. The program aims to promote responsible self-governance and active citizenship by teaching students the methods, knowledge and skills to effectively participate in the political process. Conducted nationally by the Center for Civic Education and the National Conference of State Legislators, Project Citizen has been administered in Oklahoma by OBA/LRE since 1997.

PROGRAM

In Project Citizen, each class selects a public policy problem, examines it in depth, proposes solutions, and produces an action plan to implement their chosen solution. Problems selected by past classes have included recycling programs, low teacher pay, playground problems, bullying, traffic regulations and vandalism.

Though the curriculum is most frequently used in middle-school classrooms, it is highly effective at all levels, from upper elementary through high school. It meets several of the Oklahoma State Department of Education's Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) objectives at all grade levels and across several disciplines. The program is not limited to the classroom. Youth groups and community organizations have also implemented Project Citizen.

PORTFOLIO AND SHOWCASE

In the culminating activity of this program, students summarize their chosen problem and solution in a class portfolio. The two elements of the portfolio, a display board and a documentation binder, are showcased to a panel of judges for evaluation. The judges may assess the student's work based on the portfolio alone or in conjunction with the oral presentation. For every class, each of four groups of students prepares a four-minute presentation on their section of the portfolio. After each presentation, the students respond for six minutes to follow-up questions from judges. Each class then receives feedback from the panel of judges.

In Oklahoma, each congressional district holds a portfolio showcase. Three portfolios from each district are chosen to continue to the state showcase, and the top portfolio at the state contest advances to the national showcase. Fifth grade through middle-school classes may compete in the portfolio contest; however, participation in the culminating showcase and hearing has not been limited to those grade levels. Students who submit their portfolios for the showcase gain the invaluable opportunity to receive feedback on their proposed solutions to public policy problems from lawyers, educators, members of the press, and elected officials. All classes who submit a portfolio at the state level have their work displayed in the showcase.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Workshops and institutions for Project Citizen teachers are available on local, state, regional and national levels. Every year, Oklahoma conducts at least one day-long workshop to familiarize teachers with the curriculum and the portfolio activity. Local training sessions are also held at the district level. Not only do these sessions guide teachers through the program, but they also qualify teachers to receive a free classroom set of Project Citizen textbooks. Regionally and nationally, multi-day institutions provide a more in-depth look at the curriculum, the portfolio and the public policymaking process.

MORE INFORMATION

Details on the national program are also available at the Center for Civic Education

State Coordinator
Jane McConnell

District Coordinators