This year, Virginia legislators will step inside classrooms across the state as part of America’s Legislators Back to School Program. The national event, in its tenth year, is sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Trust for Representative Democracy. The program officially kicks off the third week of September each year and runs through the end of the school year.
Participating legislators will continue to utilize the newest tools to teach middle and high school students this year. The new You Rule booklet informs young people that students can have a voice in our system of democracy and that government does impact our lives. Classrooms will be able to join four students as they discover how, in American democracy, citizens really do rule and young people have a voice in the new You Rule DVD.
Virginia ranked as #2 in the nation for the number of legislators (93% of the Senate; 91% of the House of Delegates) informing students about the legislative process; and we are excited about continuing this strong commitment to our Commonwealth’s students again this year.
America's Legislators Back to School Program is a product of NCSL's civic education initiative, the Trust for Representative Democracy. Based on the ideas and fundamental principles set forth by the framers of the Constitution, the Trust is designed to engage young people and build their understanding and support for America's democratic institutions.
Partners in the America's Legislators Back to School Week include: The American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Center for Civic Education, Center On Congress at Indiana University, Close Up Foundation, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, National Catholic Educational Association, National Constitution Center, National Council for the Social Studies, National Education Association, National Middle School Association, National School Boards Association, Reading Recovery Council of North America, and The Dirksen Congressional Center.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system. |
