SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced he is awarding a $250,000 Civic Education grant to the Center for Civic Education based in Calabasas.

"One of the most important lessons we can teach our children is how to effectively participate in society," said O'Connell.  "These skills enable students to be active members of their neighborhood where they can affect society as responsible citizens.  The Center for Civic Education has an ideal program to teach children how to become involved in their state and local governments and their communities." 

An allocation of $250,000 for the Civic Education grant was provided this year through the state budget, and has been provided annually since 2000-01.  Funding must be used for implementing a middle school and junior high school civic education program.  The Center for Civic Education would determine which local education agencies can participate and would provide the agencies with the Center's curriculum.

For this year's funding, the Center for Civic Education will receive $225,000 that represents 90 percent of the total grant in four to six weeks. The final payment of $25,000 will be made after the California Department of Education receives a Project Completion Report from the grantee.

For more information on the Civic Education Grant, please visit Funding Results: Civic Education.  For more information on the Center for Civic Education, please visit Center for Civic Education Home [http://www.civiced.org] (Outside Source).