✅ 1. Designate a Civic Learning Lead or Team

• Appoint a teacher, administrator, or student leader to coordinate your school’s civic learning efforts and serve as the main point of contact for the application.

• Set up a shared Google folder to collect documentation throughout the year (photos, student work, news clippings, etc.).
   

✅ 2. Align with the Six Proven Practices

Start integrating and documenting activities in each category:
 

1. Classroom Instruction

   • Identify lessons across subjects that include civic content (not just in history/government).

   • Start saving lesson plans, guest speaker notes, or rubrics as evidence.

2. Discussion of Current Events

   • Schedule weekly or monthly classroom discussions on real-world issues.

   • Capture student reflections, videos, or quotes.

3. Service-Learning

   • Launch service projects tied to civic themes.

   • Document pre- and post-reflections, especially for student-led initiatives.

4. Extracurricular Civic Activities

   • Encourage clubs like Youth & Government, Mock Trial, Model UN, Environmental Action, or Student Media.

   • Take attendance at meetings, track participation.

5. Student Participation in Governance

   • Promote student councils, advisory groups, campus elections.

   • Include student involvement in school site council, school climate work, or discipline policy review.

6. Simulations of Democratic Processes

   • Schedule mock trials, elections, legislative hearings, or town halls.

   • Include photos, agendas, or sample ballots in your documentation.
      

✅ 3. Track Participation Rates Early

• Create a spreadsheet to estimate what percentage of students are involved in civic learning inside or outside the classroom.

• This is a required metric on the application, and stronger schools often cite high participation.
   

✅ 4. Connect with Community Partners Now

• Reach out to local courts (Judges in the Classroom), city council, nonprofits, or advocacy groups.

• Schedule at least one guest speaker or field trip during the fall.
   

✅ 5. Include Student Voice

• Let students plan or lead at least one civic activity.

• Start a folder of student quotes, opinion pieces, campaign posters, or surveys that reflect their leadership and learning.
   

✅ 6. Involve Families

• Share your civic goals at Back-to-School Night or in newsletters.

• Invite parents to participate in civic events or volunteer as guest speakers.
   

✅ 7. Plan for Reflection & Evidence

• Schedule a day in January or February for students and teachers to reflect on what they’ve done.

• Prompt reflection using questions from the application (e.g., “What challenges did we face? What impact did our project have?”)
   

✅ 8. Review Last Year’s Application Early

• If your school applied in a previous year, gather feedback or scoresheets (if available).

• Look for opportunities to improve sections that were weaker.
   

✅ 9. Keep Multimedia Evidence in Mind

• Take photos, screenshots, or short video clips during each activity.

• Begin thinking about an optional video supplement—student interviews, footage from civic projects, or community events.
   

✅ 10. Check Your LCAP

• Does your school’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) include the word “civic” or “civic engagement”? If yes, save a copy—it’s worth extra credit.