Encouraging young people to be involved in government is preserving democracy for the next generation.

 

By Dr. Mary Ann Dewan

Dr. Mary Ann Dewan

All students deserve the opportunity to be civically engaged. As educators, we are responsible for providing civic learning opportunities and recognizing students who actively build their capacity for empathy and work to improve their community while learning about government institutions.

Earlier this month the National Assessment of Educational Progress released a report with data showing that history and civic test scores declined for 8th graders. The impact of the pandemic has left a growing opportunity to encourage youth to understand and participate in our democracy.

Through initiatives like Power of Democracy, the Santa Clara County Office of Education collaborates with community partners to bring civic engagement opportunities to students.

With an emphasis on expanding inclusive and equitable access to civic education, engagement and leadership, the SCCOE launched the POD initiative in 2017 in response to the 2014 California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning report, “Revitalizing K-12 Civic Learning in California: A Blueprint for Action.”

Through hands-on learning opportunities, students in Santa Clara County learn about public service career pathways, government institutions, and their rights as future voters. Organizations such as the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters and County of Santa Clara Superior Court Community Outreach Committee partner with the SCCOE to provide access to high-quality civic education through programs, activities, and resources that encourage student civic engagement and civil discourse.

Each spring and fall during High School Voter Education Weeks, the SCCOE in partnership with the SCC ROV works to expand youth voter education through social media marketing and voter kit distribution.Educating our young people about the voting process can help youth develop connection, ownership, and leadership, as well as greatly impact their well-being and future.

In April 2017, Secretary of State Alex Padilla launched online pre-registration through RegisterToVote.ca.gov. Since then, Santa Clara County has grown to hold the sixth largest number of 16-17 years olds pre-registered to vote in the state, with a total of 7,635 as of last September. That is the highest number out of all nine Bay Area counties. In total, 128,944 teens in California pre-registered to vote.

For the Nov. 8, 2022, election 36,935 adults ages 18-24 turned out to vote in Santa Clara County, which was 32.37 percent of all voter turnout. Reaching young voters from traditionally marginalized populations and communities is essential as we work to be inclusive of the students in Santa Clara County.

With the implementation of the Local Voting Rights Act, the SCC ROV can distribute fliers, videos, and swag items to high school students in juvenile halls. California law allows formerly incarcerated citizens to vote if they are on probation, parole, or are on mandatory supervision.

Providing opportunities for non-traditional students to be civically engaged allows for greater representation of the county’s diverse student population. For example, the Santa Clara County Board of Education recruited a student board member from an SCCOE school. The student board member is also working towards earning the State Seal of Civic Engagement.

Santa Clara County school districts can take steps to help students understand the importance of civic and democratic education through the local SSCE criteria. The Color of Justice, hosted by the County of Santa Clara Superior Court Community Outreach Committee, is one of the many opportunities introducing youth to local government and career pathways in law and opportunities within the legal field.  At this year’s program in February, Hon. Charles E. Wilson, associate justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal, referenced California’s diversity and gave youth a call to action to become civically involved.

Community leaders also contribute to the planning of programs like the Color of Justice and the annual Power of Democracy. The POD initiative is supported by a steering committee with members from Campbell Union High School, Stanford University, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the League of Women Voters. The annual POD features youth panel discussions around civic action and honors educators for their exemplary work in civic education. At the 2022 POD convening, Manasi Gajjalapurna, a student from Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, said: “When we seek to redefine civic engagement in each community, rather than accepting traditional textbook definitions we’ve been given, we can design solutions and opportunities that cater to the interest of a larger range of individuals.”

By continuing to work with county agencies, schools and community-based organizations to uplift opportunities for youth participation in civic leadership, we are preserving democracy for the next generation.

Dr. Mary Ann Dewan is the Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools.