PHOENIX – Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas has announced that 32 Arizona public schools are being recognized as 2015-2016 Arizona Civic Engagement schools by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Excellence in Civic Engagement Program (ECEP). Now in its fourth year, ECEP recognizes and supports the important role schools play in ensuring that students are informed and engaged citizens.
“As we educate our children, there are few things I see as more important than helping them understand their rights, roles and responsibilities as American citizens,” said Superintendent Douglas. “The schools being honored as part of the ECEP program are shining examples of the work being done in Arizona to prepare our students to actively participate in their communities and government when they leave the school system.”
ECEP identifies schools that demonstrate knowledge and effective implementation of the following six proven practices in civic learning: classroom instruction in civics and government, history, economics, geography, law and democracy; service learning linked to classroom learning; experiential learning; learning through participation in models and simulations of democratic processes and procedures; guided classroom discussion of current issues and events; and meaningful participation in school governance.
Public schools from around the state, both traditional and charter, applied for recognition as an Arizona Civic Engagement school with one of the following designations: School of Merit, School of Distinction or School of Excellence. Of those schools, 18 have been recognized as Schools of Merit, 10 have been honored as Schools of Distinction and four have received the most prestigious recognition as Schools of Excellence.
The schools will be formally recognized at an award ceremony on September 16, 2016.
Excellence in Civic Engagement Program Award Recipients 2015-2016
SCHOOLS OF MERIT
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Carson Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
Chandler High School Chandler Unified School District
Cocopah Middle School Scottsdale Unified School District
East Valley Academy Mesa Public Schools
Fremont Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
Imagine Prep at Surprise Charter
Kino Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
Mesa High School Mesa Public Schools
Mountain View High School Mesa Public Schools
New School for the Arts & Academics Charter
Sandra Day O’Connor High School Deer Valley Unified School District
Sirrine Elementary School Mesa Public Schools
Skyline High School Mesa Public Schools
Smith Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
Sossaman Middle School Higley Unified School District
Stapley Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
Summit Academy Mesa Public Schools
Taylor Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
SCHOOLS OF DISTINCTION
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Arizona Charter Academy Charter
Basha High School Chandler Unified School District
Boulder Creek High School Deer Valley Unified School District
Dobson High School Mesa Public Schools
Franklin Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies Mesa Public Schools
Rhodes Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
Safford K-8 IB Magnet School Tucson Unified School District
Shadow Ridge High School Dysart Unified School District
Shepherd Junior High School Mesa Public Schools
SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Arizona School for the Arts Charter
Hamilton High School Chandler Unified School District
Red Mountain High School Mesa Public Schools
Westwood High School Mesa Public Schools
For more information about ADE’s Excellence in Civic Engagement Program, please visit www.azed.gov/civicengagement.
