Supporting Readiness through Vital Civic Empowerment (SRVCE)

Challenge

A high-quality civics education prepares young people to be informed and active members of their communities. Yet civics education is underfunded, and misinformation can discourage youth from participating in civic life. Moreover, effective STEM learning demands civic literacy, but the topics are not linked in education. This leads to a disconnect between what students learn in schools and what communities and workplaces need.

To address these challenges, EDC developed the Supporting Readiness through Vital Civic Empowerment (SRVCE) program with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. SRVCE blends inquiry-based civic learning, media literacy education, and exploration of careers in public service to prepare students to be active citizens and thrive in the workforce. EDC’s SRVCE model pairs civics and STEM teachers with industry partners to build teacher capacity in addressing STEM issues in the community.

Key Activities

With key partners and collaborators, EDC developed:

• Five adaptable, inquiry-based curriculum modules on a range of civic issues rooted in students’ local communities
• Integrated career exploration, workforce experiences, and professional skill portfolios to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world
• Professional learning to support teachers in designing curriculum challenges with STEM industry and community partners
• Media literacy resources and tools that equip students to research topics of interest, analyze information, and share their ideas to make a difference
• Curated profiles of veterans and other people engaged in the civic life of their communities, reflecting multiple perspectives and illuminating stories of service

Our Impact

• More than 87% of students participating in the SRVCE curriculum pilot reported increasing their civic knowledge and skills.
• Over 95% of pilot teachers reported improving their civic knowledge, skills, and ability to engage students in inquiry-based learning.
• The SRVCE website has over 5,000 users and the SRVCE Curriculum is downloaded thousands of times each year.
• The Arizona Department of Education has approved the SRVCE Curriculum to meet the Civic Learning requirement for the Seal of Civics Literacy.
• Massachusetts teachers selected SRVCE as one of the 4 strongest supplemental materials for student-led civics projects in a review of 100+ resources conducted for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• SRVCE will culminate in a replicable and scalable model for robust civic inquiry and professional learning for designing local STEM challenges.