Civics Pilot Program
American Civics Education Pilot Program
This program is designed to fulfill Arizona State legislation SB1444 to provide a more rigorous assessment than the civics portion of the naturalization test that high school students take for their graduation requirement. The goal of this legislation is to strengthen and enhance civic education in Arizona High Schools for grades 9-12. This pilot takes place in a high school government/civics course that fulfills the graduation requirement. The results of the American Civics Education Pilot assessment will evaluate a student's mastery of civics knowledge, skills, and dispositions; the level of civics instruction provided by schools and or districts; and the statewide impact of a rigorous, performance-based civics program and assessment. Participating pilot students will be exempt from taking the Arizona Civics Test as a graduation requirement.
The American Civics Education Pilot program was awarded to the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education and will be using the We the People program and simulated Congressional Hearing as an assessment. All pilot schools will receive free program materials, trainings, mentorship, and the performance assessment.
Any Arizona public high school, multiple high schools within a district, or an entire district may apply to participate in the American Civics Education Pilot program. The program requires a district administrator or school administrator as the contact person.
The Arizona Department of Education's American Civics Education Pilot program will run for three years from January 2021 until 2024.
