September 15, 2006

Civic Mission in Schools

September 7, 2006

TO: Local President, California State PTA

FROM: Brenda Davis, President, California State PTA
     Jack O’Connell, Superintendent of Public Instruction
     Bruce McPherson, Secretary of State

We are writing to you in our roles as President of the California State PTA, California’s chief elections officer, and chief state schools official. We share a growing concern about waning student engagement in civic and governmental affairs. We want to reverse that trend and, in conjunction with the California Campaign for Civic Mission in Schools, we are launching two important programs in schools in your area. These nonpartisan programs are an effort to increase student knowledge of democratic principles and processes, so that our young people will become the well-informed, active and engaged citizens that are so critical to sustaining a healthy democracy.

FIRST, as you may know, there is now a federal requirement, enacted in 2005, designating September 17th of each year as “Constitution Day.� Schools are required to “hold an educational program on the United States Constitution� on that day. This year, September 17th falls on a Sunday, so we are encouraging all schools to hold their educational activities on Tuesday, September 19th. Constitution Day is an excellent opportunity to promote civic engagement and participation in the elections process by students and young people: there is nothing more foundational to this effort than encouraging an understanding of and appreciation for the United States Constitution.

We encourage you to take a look at the attached list of resources and encourage your schools to plan activities for Constitution Day. We stand ready to assist your schools in planning activities in celebration of this important day.

Second, knowledge of constitutional principles is a good first step. We know that many young people are not participating in the elections process. We need to increase our voter education efforts among California students to ensure that they know not just why they should be involved in the democratic process but how they can make a difference. To help young people become familiar with the voting process, we will be conducting a Student Mock Election for all middle and high school students on October 24th. We will provide (free of charge) a supply of ballots as well as “Easy Voter Guides� describing the offices and measures to be voted on (see Enrollment Form, attached).

We appreciate your help and hope that you will consider promoting these programs at your schools. Please forward this material to the appropriate person or persons and, if you can, include a note encouraging them to participate.

We firmly believe that activities like Constitution Day and the Student Mock Election can make a difference and add meaning to the principle of the “consent of the governed� as it applies to our students.

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