2025 Civic Learning Award Application

2025 Application

Deadline: APRIL 18, 2025 | Announcement: May 1, 2025
Optional Video Application
The content of your video should address questions in this application. Ask your teachers, coaches, students, and parents to help! When you're finished, place the URL in the additional details box at the end of this application. Questions? JudicialOutreach@jud.ca.gov
I will:

Submit a Video ApplicationUse video as a supplement to my written entriesNeed help transferring the video (we don't have a host)

Worksheets To Help Plan Your Application
Elementary School

Middle School

High School

How to Prepare and Submit a Video Application
Submitting Video Applications

To produce a video, here are some guidelines:

If the content of the video responds to a specific prompt within the application, be sure to mention that (or list it in the video title or description).

Check your audio: Avoid windy corridors or loud events like a jamboree where the people speaking can't be heard.

Feature Your Students: their reflection on any project is often more interesting to panelists than the project itself. What do they know after the project that they didn't know before? Ask your students to share what they learned with the experience.

Teacher Voice: We listen to the students' voices, but teachers are important, too! Ask them to share what a civic-minded student body brings to their experience as teachers. How has civics enriched or inspired them as educators?

Platforms for Hosting: To share your video, load it to a host like YouTube (set to "unlisted"). Once your application is accepted, you will be notified, and you may remove the video if you choose. Google Drive is another platform applicants use for sharing videos and other files.

Videos should not be longer than 5 minutes. This is not a rule, but simply a guideline. If you have a photo gallery with captions that capture your work, you may submit that.

All video applicants should complete the contact information, extra credit, and the application's general information sections.
Your Name*

First NameLast Name
Position*
School Name*
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
How many times has this school been recognized?
SchoolDigger Rating
Great Schools Rating
County*
Our school is a:*

Traditional Public SchoolPublic Charter or MagnetVirtual or Online SchoolContinuation SchoolCommunity SchoolOther
Less is More
These applications ask that you share how you overcame obstacles, collaborated with peers, and gave students space to explore and find their voice. Be sure to include news articles, social media posts, and video to support your efforts! The more a judge can visualize your student engagement, the more likely they are to support it with points.

Questions? judicialoutreach@jud.ca.gov or 415-865-4546

Introduce Your School
In general terms, what are you most proud of about your school?
An overall statement about the climate of civic engagement or delivery of civic learning at your school. Think of it as describing what a visitor might see when they visit your campus.
Estimate the percentage of your whole student body that engages in civic learning or activity outside the classroom (service learning, volunteering, school board meetings, etc.)
0-100%
We are a:
If you are a K-8 or K-12, select a span that best reflects the majority of participants. If it is your entire student body, you may explain that point in any of the grade spans.

Elementary School

Including Kindergarten Classrooms
Questions supporting the Six Proven Practices for Effective Civic Learning are arranged by category. Only complete the ones that help describe the practice or program you wish to include, preferably with measures.

You may download this worksheet to use as a guide. It contains the six practices and other tips to help you frame (or record) your application
Section 1: School Administration
E1: How do you collaborate with other teachers or departments to integrate civic learning in the classroom?
This may include joining classrooms for activities, field trips, or hosting guests.
E2: Have any grants or funding opportunities helped support civic education in your school?
E3: How does your school provide space for students to develop a foundation for civic knowledge and engagement.
Section 2: Classroom Activities
E4: Share anecdotal stories or examples of classroom activities that help students understand concepts of rights and responsibilities as citizens and civic participation. Include samples of their engagement in basic democratic practices like voting in class elections.
Be sure to include the percentage of the student body participating in these activities.
E5: What strategies do you use to make civic education more hands-on or interactive?
Section 3: Community Involvement
E6: Have you partnered with local organizations or government officials?
E7: We involve parents and families in their child’s civic learning journey by:
E8: Our students engage with their local community in age-appropriate ways by:
For project-based activities, include if the project is initiated by students.
Section 4: Challenges & Opportunities
E9: How do you measure the impact of civic education on your students and overall campus community?
E10: What obstacles do you encounter when trying to expand civic learning for students?
E11: How can schools/educators work together with their local courts to enhance quality civic education in the community? (Information only, no points for this question)

Middle School
Questions supporting the Six Proven Practices for Effective Civic Learning are arranged by category. Only complete the ones that help describe the practice or program you wish to include, preferably with measures.

You may download this worksheet to use as a guide. It contains the six practices and other tips to help you frame (or record) your application.

You should respond to at least one for each section.
Section 1: Curriculum and Activities

General Engagement Strategies
M1: What are the most effective methods you've used to introduce or engage middle school students to civic learning? Be sure to include how you’ve measured effectiveness.
This may include efforts to bring civics into classrooms outside Social Studies and History.
M2: Describe efforts in your school or classroom to promote digital literacy.
M3: Are there any interactive tools or games you’ve used that have been particularly successful in teaching civic concepts?
Example: Oyez, Flocabulary, or iCivics
M4: How do you incorporate real-world events into your civic learning curriculum?
M5: How do you encourage and support the “student voice”?
Section 2: Student Involvement & Impact
M6: How do you encourage middle school students to take an active role in their communities?
M7: Share examples of students taking initiative to identify issues in their school or surrounding community?
M8: How do you assess student understanding of civic topics?
Section 3: Community and Parental Involvement
M9: How have parents and the broader community supported civic learning for middle school students?
M10: Have you partnered with any local organizations to enhance civic education opportunities?
Section 4: Challenges & Opportunities
MS11: What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced when it comes to engaging students in civic learning? How have you addressed these challenges?
MS12: How can schools/educators work together with their local courts to enhance quality civic education at your school or in the community?

High School
Questions supporting the Six Proven Practices for Effective Civic Learning are arranged by category. Only complete the ones that help describe the practice or program you wish to include, preferably with measures.

You may download this worksheet to use as a guide. It contains the six practices and other tips to help you frame (or record) your application.
Section 1: General Engagement Strategies
HS1: What are the most effective methods you've used to introduce high school students to civic learning? Be sure to include how you’ve measured effectiveness.

0/500
HS2: How do you make civic education relevant and engaging?

0/500
HS3: Here’s how our school or class uses technology to engage students in service or civic learning.

0/500
Section 2: Curriculum and Activities
HS4: What specific projects or activities have you implemented to encourage student participation in civic issues? Put emphasis on those that are student initiated.

0/500
HS5: How do you incorporate real-world events into your civic learning curriculum?

0/400
HS6: Describe activities that promote a better understanding of the judicial branch, or promote the role of the judiciary?

0/400
HS7: How do you integrate civic learning into your classroom curriculum? Include efforts that connect classrooms and clubs like the arts, economics, etc.

0/400
Section 3: Student Involvement & Impact
HS8: Supporting the student voice is our priority. We foster this in the following ways:
HS9: We encourage our students to take an active role in their community by:
HS10: Share examples of students taking initiative to identify issues in their school or surrounding community? How have they worked to resolve them?
HS11: How do you assess student understanding of civic topics?
Section 4: Challenges & Opportunities
HS12: What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced when it comes to engaging students in civic learning? How have you addressed these challenges?
HS13: Has your school secured additional funds, i.e. grants, or support from partners to promote civic engagement?
Section 5: Community and Parental Involvement
HS14: How have parents and the broader community supported civic learning for your middle school students?
HS15: Have you partnered with local organizations, government agencies, or civic leaders to enhance your students' learning experiences?
HS16: How can schools/educators work together with their local courts to enhance quality civic education at your school or in the community?

Supporting documents may be loaded here:

Video, JPEG, DOC, PDF
Cancelof
Last year, we saw honorees separated by just a point or two. Don't skip the extra credit!

Extra Credit
Please load a copy of LCAP if it contains the word "civics"or “civic learning” or “civic engagement” (2 pts)

For extra credit, load your LCAP here if the word "civics" is included in your District's LCAP
Cancelof
If students are learning how to evaluate the source of news, describe it here.

0/500
High Schools Only: Last year, what percentage of students were awarded the State Seal of Civic Engagement? Was this higher or lower than in previous years? Why? (1-3 pts)
Has your school connected with a local court for a Judges in the Classroom visit? If so, you'll get extra credit. If not, you can make a request using the link below (1 pt)
You can submit a request to get credit here: judgesintheclassroom.org
Information only: Does your school have access to transportation for field trips?
This is for the purpose of contacting you when the court is hosting students for events or visits.

Any additional details you'd like to share, do so here. Is your school making court-connections, tell us about it here. You may also add links to your activities, photo galleries, or online videos:

0/400
Principal's Name*

First NameLast Name
Email of School Principal*
A copy of the application will not be sent to them. You may print copy and send to them directly.
Principal's Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Email of your District Superintendent's Office*
A copy of the application will not be sent to them. You may print copy and send to them directly.

Thank you for your time. Much of what we promote around the state comes from what we learn from you. If you have a few more minutes, we'd like your input to help us program future opportunities for educators and students. Your responses will not be submitted with your application.
"Our school is interested in working with schools of lower or upper grades to build pathways for our students to earn the Seal of Civic Engagement"

Absolutely!Ask again in a yearWe already areI'm not sure what this would look like but keep us postedI
If you're connected to your local court, describe the relationship. If you are not, how would you like to connect?
The Power of Democracy, through our state courts, wants to support your growth for years to come! Tell us how?

You may return at any time to edit your application. Thank you for participating in this year's program!
Should be Empty:

Introduce Your School

Elementary School

Section 1: School Administration

Section 2: Classroom Activities

Section 3: Community Involvement

Section 4: Challenges & Opportunities

Middle School

Section 1: Curriculum and Activities

Section 2: Student Involvement & Impact

Section 3: Community and Parental Involvement

Section 4: Challenges & Opportunities

High School

Section 1: General Engagement Strategies

Section 2: Curriculum and Activities

Section 3: Student Involvement & Impact

Section 4: Challenges & Opportunities

Section 5: Community and Parental Involvement