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RESOLVES
Second Special Session of the 121st

CHAPTER 143
H.P. 1417 - L.D. 1915

Resolve, To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Study the Scope and Quality of Citizenship Education

PART A

     Sec. A-1. Considering citizenship education during review of system of learning results. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall consider the recommendations of the Commission to Study the Scope and Quality of Citizenship Education, established in Resolve 2003, chapter 85, related to implications for the system of learning results when the department reviews the guiding principles, the performance standards and the content indicators of the system of learning results beginning during the 2003-2004 school year in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209, subsection 4; and be it further

     Sec. A-2. Statewide public forums for youth. Resolved: That, subject to available resources, the Legislative Youth Advisory Council shall conduct a series of statewide public forums on issues important to youth and invite Legislators from the various regions of the State to participate in these public forums. The Legislative Youth Advisory Council shall submit a report including its findings and recommendations no later than November 3, 2004 to the Governor, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters, the Judicial Department and the Task Force on Citizenship Education established in Part B, section 1; and be it further

     Sec. A-3. Funding. Resolved: That the Legislative Youth Advisory Council shall seek outside funds to fully fund all costs of conducting the public forums described in section 2. If sufficient outside funding has not been received by August 15, 2004 to fully fund all costs of conducting the public forums described in section 2, no public forums are authorized and no expenses of any kind may be incurred or reimbursed for this purpose. All contributions are subject to approval by the Legislative Council. All funds accepted must be forwarded to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council along with an accounting record that includes the amount of funds, the date the funds were received, from whom the funds were received and the purpose of and any limitation on the use of those funds. Upon approval from the Legislative Council, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall forward any funds received by the Legislative Youth Advisory Council to the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service, which shall administer and make available an accounting of the funds. The Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service shall notify the chairs of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council when sufficient funding has been received.

PART B

     Sec. B-1. Task Force on Citizenship Education established. Resolved: That the Department of Education and the State Board of Education shall jointly establish and provide support for the Task Force on Citizenship Education, referred to in this resolve as "the task force." The task force shall address the recommendations of the Commission to Study the Quality and Scope of Citizenship Education, which was established pursuant to Resolve 2003, chapter 85, including, but not limited to, the following components:

     1. Developing recommendations to assist the Department of Education in its review of the guiding principles, the performance standards and the content indicators of the system of learning results, beginning with the 2003-2004 school year;

     2. Engaging state and local educational agency officials, educators, college officials, researchers, policy makers and other key stakeholders in an effort to research, produce and disseminate a resource guide to effective citizenship education in the State;

     3. Examining the content of preservice education in this State related to citizenship education and considering any implications for teacher certification;

     4. Developing a plan for the creation of a civic education and citizenship engagement index to track data on civic skills, attitudes and behaviors of youth in this State. The task force shall review the North Carolina Civic Index and other measures of citizenship engagement and coordinate the development of an index in this State that builds upon the work begun by the Muskie School of Public Service in establishing Maine Marks: Social Indicators of Child, Family and Community Well-being and the Maine Economic Growth Council;

     5. Examining in-service professional development programs for educators in this State and identifying ways to infuse civic skills, attitudes and behaviors into curricular and cocurricular programs for students in this State; and

     6. Examining national voter education and voter registration models and making recommendations to the Secretary of State on ways to promote voter education and voter registration efforts for students in our secondary schools across the State; and be it further

     Sec. B-2. Report; legislation. Resolved: That the task force shall submit an interim status report including any preliminary findings and recommendations for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters, to the Commissioner of Education and to the State Board of Education no later than November 3, 2004.

     The task force shall submit its final report, including findings, recommendations and suggested legislation, for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters, the Commissioner of Education and the Chair of the State Board of Education no later than December 5, 2005. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters has authority to report out legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature.

Effective July 30, 2004, unless otherwise indicated.

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