Thirteen Illinois High Schools Recognized As Democracy Schools

CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Illinois Civics Mission Coalition (ICMC) has recognized 13 exceptional Illinois high schools as Democracy Schools. Additionally, four of the original Illinois Democracy Schools have completed a recommitment process commemorating ten years of fostering civic learning in their schools and communities.

The new and recommitted Democracy Schools will receive funding from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation that convenes the ICMC to invest in high-quality civic learning initiatives. 

Democracy Schools are recognized for providing students with authentic experiences in the rights, responsibilities and tensions inherent in living in a constitutional democracy. Through these experiences, participating schools strive to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for informed, effective engagement in our democracy.

Since 2006, 67 Illinois high schools have successfully completed a school-wide civic assessment and have been subsequently recognized as Democracy Schools. The 13 Illinois high schools that have earned this distinction in 2017 include:

Batavia High School, Batavia
Belvidere North High School, Belvidere
Belvidere High School, Belvidere
Carlinville High School, Carlinville
Duquoin High School, Du Quoin
Gibault Catholic High School, Waterloo
Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale
Huntley High School, Huntley
Loyola Academy, Wilmette
J. Sterling Morton West High School, Berwyn
Nicholas Senn High School, Chicago
George Washington High School, Chicago
Wells Community Academy High School, Chicago

2017 Recommitted Democracy Schools:
Bartlett High School, Bartlett
Geneva High School, Geneva
Lake Park High School, Roselle
West Chicago High School, West Chicago

Illinois Democracy Schools embrace the mission to provide high-quality civic learning opportunities for all students. Their leadership emphasizes civic learning through professional development of faculty, and proven civic learning practices are woven throughout the formal curriculum. Democracy Schools foster a school climate that nurtures and models civic dispositions and builds reciprocal relationships within the surrounding community.

"We commend each school's tenacity and enthusiasm in expanding and improving civic learning across the curriculum and throughout Illinois," said Shawn Healy, Director of the Democracy Program at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. "Through these practices and experiences student see first-hand the critical role they play in shaping government and society."

Democracy Schools provide numerous opportunities for students to participate in the democratic process through a range of classes and clubs. From class discussions on current issues and democratic simulations to extracurricular and service learning opportunities, students are able to experience first-hand the critical role they can play in shaping their government and society.

About the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition
The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition (ICMC) is a broad non-partisan consortium which includes educators, administrators, students, universities, funders, elected officials, policymakers and representatives from the private and non-profit sectors. Formed in 2004 by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, the ICMC is part of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, a national initiative to restore a core purpose of education to prepare America's youngest citizens to be informed and active participants in our democracy.

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation has convened the ICMC since 2010. Learn more at www.McCormickFoundation.org/DemocracySchools.

About the Robert R. McCormick Foundation
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation's mission is fostering communities of educated, informed, and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic grant-making and Cantigny Park, the Foundation works to make life better in Chicagoland. The McCormick Foundation, among the nation's largest foundations with more than $1.5 billion in assets, was established in 1955 upon the death of Col. Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Find out more at www.mccormickfoundation.org.

SOURCE McCormick Foundation

Related Links

http://www.mccormickfoundation.org