Democracy Schools Network

Monthly Update

December 2023

Dear Democracy School Network Members,

As we enter this special season that embraces peace, joy, and hope, we also recognize our nation’s ongoing commitment to liberty, equality, and justice—acknowledging that the battles we encounter over these values must ultimately strengthen our resolve. New challenges are appearing; they will require your creativity, vigor, intellect, and compassion. We are grateful for how generous you are with these gifts. 

We hope that you will continue to find satisfaction and positive challenge in your work with young people. We firmly believe in your capacity to make change, empower students, and strengthen our democracy. Because we all know…democracy doesn’t just happen.

Sending our warmest thoughts and best wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year. 

~Mary Ellen and Sue

ON YOUR RADAR

DSN announcements, upcoming events, Professional Development opportunities, and information about activities in our Democracy Schools.

The New Illinois Democracy Schools K-12 Framework

One of the long-time goals of the Illinois Democracy School Initiative has been to expand its reach beyond high schools; many of you have affirmed this perspective when we have had discussions about what could make this program more successful. Having our colleagues in the K-8 space work with us on our mission offers exciting new possibilities for civic learning in Illinois.

About a year and a half ago, we began working in earnest on this project, and we would like to offer a glimpse of the work done thus far. The team that has been engaged in this work (Mary Ellen Daneels [Illinois Democracy Schools Director], Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg [Newhouse Director of CIRCLE, Tufts University], Kelly Siegel-Stechler [Senior Researcher at CIRCLE, Tufts University], Sue Khalaieff [Illinois Democracy Schools Manager], Noorya Hayat [Researcher at CIRCLE, Tufts University], Grace Northern [Stevenson Fellow from Illinois State University during 2022-23 school year] is pleased to share this timeline:

• June 2022: Initial attempt at alignment of DSN model with Educating for American Democracy (EAD) framework
• July–Nov. 2022: Work on model continues as team integrates the EAD principles with the current element structure of the DSN
• Feb. 2023: Presentation of draft to Illinois Civic Coaches for feedback
• Feb.–April 2023: Team integrates feedback and continues to develop model
• April 2023: Draft model is presented to DSN Advisory Council, which provides a second round of feedback.
• May 2023: Advisory Council members invite staff from all disciplines to review and offer feedback on the model
• June 2023: At a two-day summit, K-12 teachers representing the geographic diversity of the state, all grade levels, and academic disciplines, gather to review model from their unique perspective.
• June–Sept. 2023: Model continues to be edited, considering scope, alignment, clarity, and language
• Sept. 2023: Stakeholders representing school administrators and community partners participate in a session, providing feedback from two stakeholder groups that are included in the model
• Nov. 2023: DSN Taskforce is created to provide detailed written feedback on the current draft
• Dec. 2023: Virtual sessions conducted with Taskforce, looking more deeply and critically at the model.

Simon Wisenthal Center's Mobile Museum of Tolerance

Last week, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) launched its first in-classroom experience of Combat Hate: A Digital Media Literacy Workshop  at Huntley High School (2017). (Read more about that event here.) Combat Hate combines the research expertise of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the educational pedagogy from the Museum of Tolerance. Combat Hate has been such a popular workshop on board the MMOT that they are now offering this dynamic workshop in the classroom that engages students in critical thinking for decoding and rejecting online hate.

Combat Hate has been operating for the past eight years in Los Angeles and New York City and has reached more than 20,000 students. This program is designed for grades 6-12 and is aligned with Illinois SEL and media literacy standards. During this 45-minute workshop, students are challenged to interpret real-life examples of online identity-based hate speech, analyze their real-world impact, and develop an action plan for speaking up against online hate in the future.



For any school interested in the program, please contact Jacqueline Carroll at the Mobile Museum of Tolerance or submit the form on the website.

DSN Grants

Every year, the Democracy Schools Network offers members the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $1,000 that will enable a school to improve the civic landscape of their school. We are pleased to announce that these schools have been awarded the funding they requested for their project:



• Hinsdale South (2020): Service Learning project support
• Collinsville (2016): Biodiverse Reflection Garden
• Maine East (2013): Student Affinity groups
• Loyola (2017): Service Learning course and Spring Symposium
• Belvidere North (2017): Student-led voter registration drive
• Olympia (2023): Common civic language materials
• Shawnee (2014): Addiction education and support

You can hear more about these projects and their impact on April 13, 2024, from 4-5 pm in a virtual program where each of the recipients will provide more details on the planning, execution, and results of their action. Webinar details will be shared in the March Monthly Update.

Earn Your Microcredentials: Become a Guardian of Democracy Educator

The Illinois Civics Hub has partnered with the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida to provide educators with the opportunity to earn their microcredentials in the proven practices of civic education embedded in the middle and high school civics course requirements in Illinois. Courses include:

• Current and Controversial Issue Discussions—Learn from academic experts Dr. Diana Hess & Dr. Paula McAvoy as you explore the purpose, role, and function of discussion strategies as pedagogical tools to equip young people to be engaged citizens. This course will enhance the practice of educators with strategies and resources to create a classroom climate in which there are equitable opportunities for ALL students to engage in dialogue about essential questions across the curriculum.

• Simulations of Democratic Processes—Learn from academic experts Dr. Walter Parker & Dr. Jane Lo as you explore how democratic processes and procedures occur as part of the regular functioning of government, in each of the three branches of government, and at each level of government. This course will guide you through the purpose, planning, and implementation of three simulations: town hall meetings, legislative hearings, and moot courts.

• Informed Action through Service Learning—Learn from academic experts Dr. Joseph Kahne and Jessica Marshall as you explore the purpose, role, and function of informed action through service learning as a pedagogical tool to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be active members of their community. In this course, you will interact with strategies and tools you can use in your classroom to support student-centered informed action through service learning.

• NEW: Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice—Learn from academic experts Dr. Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Dr. Shawn P. Healy, and Dr. Bonnie Laughlin Schultz as you explore how the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap can help teach constitutional democracy as both content and practice across disciplines K-12.

Registration information is available on the Guardians of Democracy homepage. Those who successfully complete the 5-week online course will earn a Bronze Certified Guardian of Democracy Educator badge via Badgr and the University of Central Florida Center for Distributive Learning.

Participants can earn 15 PD hours through the DuPage Regional Office of Education for an additional fee.

There are three strands of courses for each proven practice of civics education. Graduate credit is available through the University of St. Francis for completing all three courses. For more information, please visit the Guardians of Democracy homepage.

Check out our website for PD opportunities, resources and inspiration.

illinoiscivics.org