State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2020 Civic Learning Award Recipients

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 75 schools won this year’s Civic Learning Awards, which celebrate public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning. Now in its eighth year, the awards program is co-sponsored by Thurmond and Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.

These schools engage students in civic learning through strong civics curriculum in school and service-learning projects in their communities. The awards are designed to both celebrate successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and to identify successful models that can be replicated in other schools.

“As a passionate supporter of civics, I’m so proud of these schools for engaging students in civics early, which helps engage them for life,” said Thurmond. “During my time both as a civics teacher and in the State Legislature, I've always encouraged students to get involved. My office continues to be open for students to share their ideas on new bills on whatever issues affect them, anything from keeping college affordable to student housing.”

“Congratulations to this year’s Civic Learning Award recipients,” said Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye. “They serve as models for all schools to promote the importance of civic education and engagement for all students.”

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye visits schools receiving Awards of Excellence, the highest level, which include:

• La Costa Heights Elementary School in San Diego County, where fifth graders picked a state bill to research and advocate for with their state legislators. Students chose to focus on pay equity with Assembly Bill 271 and presented their findings and recommendations to lawmakers. Students also helped design and install 40 environmentally friendly drop boxes in the community for voters to cast absentee ballots. The school has received the Award of Distinction and the Award of Merit in previous years. This is the first year it received the Award of Excellence.
• South Junior High School in Orange County, where students prepare and deliver two-minute “soapbox” speeches that include a call to action on issues of importance, such as the death penalty, gun laws, and college tuition. They later deliver their speeches before a panel of local judges. The school also created its own “Soapbox Night,” giving students the opportunity to present issues they are passionate about in a public platform.
• Savanna High School in Orange County, where all students participate in the Raising Student Voice and Participation program at Savanna High School. Over the course of a year, each class identifies and seeks solutions to a problem on campus. In Economics classes, students use Google Maps to choose a vacant lot and create a video to pitch a valuable project for the community. Government class students can train as poll workers, and many work 15-hour shifts on Election Day.

In addition to the three Awards of Excellence schools, six schools received the Award of Distinction, which will be presented personally by members of the judiciary. This year’s Award of Distinction schools are:

• Park Dale Lane Elementary, San Diego County
• San Marino Elementary, Orange County
• Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Middle/High School Charter, Sacramento County
• Walker Junior High, Orange County
• Pacific High School, San Bernardino County
• Loara High School, Orange County

In addition to the top nine schools, 66 schools received the Award of Merit.

Below is a full list of the 2020 Civic Learning Award recipients.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100