California - We the People:
The Citizen and the Constitution
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California Project Citizen Website

California Project Citizen
If you are interested in our sister program, We the People, Project Citizen please contact Project Citizen State Coordinator, Tina Ochoa at ochoa@civiced.org 

CALIFORNIA WE THE PEOPLE
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The California We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution program is one of only two states that divides itself not only into Congressional Districts but also Regional Districts. Below is the map of this organization which should assist you in finding the appropriate Region Coordinator to Contact.

Recent Posts

California We the People is honored to announce a new link with outstanding video production produced by James Moxom and his crew at WTP Films. For insights into the We the People program and the Mock Congrressional Hearing, go to the following,
http://www.wtpfilms.com  to see an outstanding representation of a congressional hearing as well as the story of the National Champion Arcadia High School We the People Team.

NEW! Pacing Guides for Level I, II, and III
We the People Texts


New: Literacy guides Available
The purpose of these guides is to provide teachers using the WTP program strategies and resources to help struggling readers. They include:
-An examination of the challenges facing struggling readers and their teachers
-An explanation of the reading process
-Practical strategies for classroom teachers
-Teacher resources
New: Sample Follow-Up Questions
 

WELCOME!

Welcome to the California, We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Website. This Civic Education program was first developed by the Center for Civic Education in 1987 as the official curricular program to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. For over twenty years, the California We the People program has been committed to assisting educators from all learning communities prepare our students for citizenship in the Twenty-First century by focusing classroom learning on developing Civic Knowledge, Civic Skills, and Civic Dispositions. To learn more about the National We the People program, please go to the CCE Home button on the menu above.

Our website is intended to provide both local and statewide contact information, as well as information on professional development and community activities that are being held around the state every month of year. It is also our goal to provide both teachers and students with valuable resources that will assist in their learning about America's Constitution and the role that each individual plays in promoting both individual rights and the common good. Use the navigation bar above to quickly access resources for the program developed by staff and educators from California and across the world. If you have a question about our program statewide or in your community, do not hesitate to contact the California Consulting State Coordinator, Terri Richmond or former state coordinator, and now volunteer, David Richmond at cawtp35@yahoo.com or 661-871-5636.


 

  

 

California Holds 25th State Finals for We the People…the Citizen and the Constitution

The 2011-2012 school year has presented several hurdles for the California We the People program.  A loss of federal funding has made keeping this incredible program alive difficult.  However, through the hard work of dedicated volunteers and teachers, the donations of generous individuals, and students who love to learn, we are still making a difference in civic education.  We are proud to announce the 25th annual State Finals for our program.  The event will be held February 10-11, 2012 in Bakersfield, California. Golden Valley High School is proud to host this event.  Friday evening will consist of a welcome ceremony and teacher tribute skits performed by students.  Local students will also perform a fun skit, entitled “The Worst WTP Hearing Ever”.  Saturday’s competition will consist of two rounds of hearings over an eight hour period, culminating in the announcement of our state winner.  The winner will represent California at the National Finals, held in late April at George Mason University in Virginia.  The following schools have qualified to attend the state finals:

Amador Valley High School, coach Sam Weaver

Arvin High School, coach Robert Ruckman

Centennial High School, coach Ryan Coleman

Granite Hills High School, coach Ron Whitney

Irvington High School, coach Cheryl Cook-Kalio

Arcadia High School, coach Kevin Fox

Martin Luther King, Jr High School, coach Dan Cleary

Foothill High School, coach Jeremy Detamore

SCHEDULE

Round 1 Hearings begin at 8:30

Round 2 Hearings begin at 11:40

Awards begin at 3:15

If you are interested in assisting with a monetary donation, please see www.civiced.org for information or email our program at cawtp35@yahoo.com


 

 

CALIFORNIA/NEVADA SUMMER INSTITUTE IN RENO NEVADA BRINGS OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TEACHERS FROM NEIGHBORING STATES!

 

Thirty-one elementary, middle school and high school teachers from twenty-six schools from both California and Nevada converged on the Northern Nevada Bar Center in Reno for six days of rigorous professional development focusing on the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum and culminating hearing.  Nevada State Coordinator Kathleen Dickinson with assistance from California State Coordinator David Richmond provided what many teachers and long-time mentors believed to be one of the best summer institutes experiences ever.  With the leadership of outstanding mentors Angela Orr, Mark Towell, Debbie Berger, Kim Tetzlaff, Bob McCoy and Kevin Fox, participants were treated to a wide array of pedagogical approaches to assist in improving the teaching of civics in their classrooms.  Scholarship was provided by Oregon Supreme Court Justice (Ret.) Sue Leeson, Chair of the History Department at University of Nevada, Reno Scott Casper and Chair of the History Department, University of Nevada, Las Vegas David Tanenhaus during the six days of presentations.  Participants were also allowed to enjoy the wonderful cultural opportunities that Reno offers.  As one participant said “It is unfortunate that Congress chose to cut funding for this outstanding program.  If every History or Civics teacher in America could have the experience that I have had this past week, I know for a fact that the future of our government would be in good hands.”  The State Coordinators from Nevada and California would like to thank the Center for Civic Education, the Nevada Humanities Council and the Northern Nevada Bar Center for their outstanding support of this event. 

 

For more photos and slide show of the event, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtlNhwg-gms

 


 

LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDS BRINGS ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES IN CA WTP AND PROJECT CITIZEN.

 

It is sometimes said that we save the best for last.  The 2010-2011 program year for We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution was one of the best in the past 10 years.  However, with the loss of Federal funds for this next program year, CAWTP has had to make some adjustments.  The first and most obvious challenge is that with the loss of funding,  our Level I, II, and III texts cannot be provided for free nor will there be significant funds for professional development opportunities.  For the purposes of High School events, California has reorganized into four Major regions:  Bay Area, Charlotte Powers and Suzette Ferguson will be coordinators in charge.  Northern Valley, Dee Morgan, Coordinator in charge, Southern Valley, Terri Richmond and Marvin Awbrey Coordinators in charge, and So California, Pam Allender, Peg Hill, Pat Hitchcock, and Dr. Mike Williams Coordinators in charge.  These outstanding volunteers can be found on our coordinator page and you can make contact with them for any information you may want or need.

 

In regards to text, we are working diligently to find sources of funding to assist schools.  We have developed an adopt a school program with the California and affiliate Bar Associations, and you can go to the donation page on the www.civiced.org website at http://new.civiced.org/about/give/we-need-your-help  You can also access the Center’s on-line store and look at the materials available and the prices being offered.  Lastly, California will still provide the We the People E-Books for free.  Go to the button on the top of the page to access or you can call the Center for Civic Education for assistance.

 

Lastly, with the downsizing of the Center, David Richmond will no longer be the State Coordinator, although given his 25 years of commitment and work with the Center he will volunteer to assist all coordinators and teachers throughout the state.  Terri Richmond, a former teacher with the program and Region 4 Coordinator has been named the Consulting State Coordinator for CA We the People and Project Citizen. 

 

With continued commitment and hard work of our coordinators, teachers, parents, and alumni we are very excited about our continued progress and success.  We are very hopeful that Congress will see the light and reinvest in Civic Education and the We the People program the coming program year. 

 

Please encourage your communities to donate time and funds to our efforts.

   

 

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