Education department receives $150,000 for public schools

The state Department of Education has received $150,000 to help it promote civic education in Maine’s public schools.

Announced Thursday, the two-year grant was awarded to six state coalitions by the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, a major national initiative to renew and restore a core purpose of public education: preparing America’s young people to be informed and active citizens.

The grant is funded by Carnegie Corp. of New York and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and managed by the Council for Excellence in Government and the Academy for Educational Development.

Patrick Phillips, deputy education commissioner, said the money would be used to:

. Review the Maine Learning Results standards to ensure that they require students to participate in democracy.

. Identify and publicize outstanding examples of citizenship education in Maine schools.

. Organize a “speakers bureau” including judges, legislators and employees from the Secretary of State’s Office and the Governor’s Office who would talk with students.

. Meet with young people across the state to understand their views of civic life.

. Hold a Blaine House conference on civic education.

. Hire a part-time coordinator.

The state plans to collaborate with the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, which includes high school and college students who advise lawmakers on youth-related issues, as well as the State Board of Education, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, college representatives, the League of Women Voters and the Maine Municipal Association, among others, Phillips said.

“We’re going to approach this from the standpoint of shared work,” he said. “This is about creating true partnerships, not adding one more thing for teachers and principals to work on.”