LegiSchool works hard each year to provide engaging and exciting opportunities for students and teachers around California! Through our town halls, contests and internship program, LegiSchool illustrates how government is relevant to young people, laying the groundwork for the next generation’s on-going commitment to civic life.

During the 2013/14 school year, LegiSchool continued its tradition of bringing together students and lawmakers to talk about real issues facing our state. We hit the road and hosted a Los Angeles Town Hall, in addition to two Sacramento meetings, reaching students all over the state. The art, essay and photo contests were a big hit, and we broke records with the number of entries we received. In addition, LegiSchool gave out our inaugural Teacher of the Year award to Mr. Stephen White, a teacher at Marysville High School. This award was created to recognize exceptional educators in our state who go above and beyond to provide civic learning opportunities for their students.

This year, LegiSchool’s town hall meetings will bring students together to discuss the election, high-speed rail and the future of the correctional system in our state. Our art contest will have a new twist, giving students a chance to showcase their creativity through editorial cartoons. And finally, our essay contest will ask students to examine climate change and offer their ideas on how to address the problem.

Learning by doing is the philosophy of LegiSchool. Read on to learn more about how you can involve your students. All of LegiSchool’s 2014/15 activities are on our website: csus.edu/legischool

(Pictured below from top to bottom: Students at a Town Hall Meeting in Los Angeles, and 2014 essay contest winner and Student Legislative Summit attendee, Mercedes Hawkins with Assembly Member Bonta).

C A L I F O R N I A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y , S A C R A M E N T O • C E N T E R F O R C A L I F O R N I A S T U D I E S

Fall 2014

Welcome to LegiSchool 2014/2015

LegiSchool projectThe

• Town Hall Meetings

• Teacher of the Year

• Real World Civics Summer Internship

• Contests and more!

InsideIt’s that time of the year again, when we join together to challenge California’s high school students through participation in the LegiSchool Project. The LegiSchool partner institutions-- the California State Legislature, California State University, Sacramento, and the California Channel-- invite you to join us in this winning program. In the last few years, the accomplishments of the LegiSchool students have been extraordinary and we are very proud of all who have contributed.

This unique program has helped many students immerse themselves in civic matters far beyond their expectations. We have debated current issues, some more controversial than others, and allowed students to express their passionate views on subjects that directly affect their lives. Students from all over California have submitted essays in hopes of being one of ten individuals chosen to participate in a special legislative conference at the State Capitol in Sacramento. The successes of past LegiSchool scholars inspire all of us involved to reach out to as many of our state’s teens as possible.

This year we are planning a very exciting agenda. We hope you will participate in this dynamic learning process by helping LegiSchool reach students: the future leaders of our state.

Dear Friends,

TheLegiSchool

Project

Real Issues, Real Debate,Real Curriculum

Sincerely, Greg Schmidt Secretary of the Senate

An educational collaboration between Sacramento State and the California State Legislature

Visual Arts Contest: Editorial Cartoons

A single image can convey a powerful message. That is why edito-

rial cartoons are often used to explore complex subjects. Cartoon-

ists use symbols, metaphors, caricatures and more to explain public

opinion on current issues. In this contest, LegiSchool invites you to

express your opinion by creating an original editorial cartoon. Cash

prizes awarded to winners and runners up. Please visit csus.edu/

calst/contests.html for more details.

Postmark deadline: Wednesday, November 12, 2014.

LegiSchool Contests

Photo at left: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: Mikaela Dahlke, Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley

Photo below: Culver City High School student pose with their art contest entries. (Photo credit: Culver City Crossroads)

Greetings!

It is my great pleasure to join the LegiSchool team in welcoming you to an exciting new year of

LegiSchool Town Hall Meetings. For several years, the Legislature has hosted high school students from

around the state, with the State Capitol as a backdrop. LegiSchool discussions focus on real time legisla-

tive issues which are newsworthy and relevant – not only to the students, but to Californians generally.

As Senate President pro Tempore, I have personally championed many of the issues that LegiSchool has

selected as its focus, including how to reduce high school drop-out rates, how to get corporate California

invested in our education system, and how to make high school curriculum more relevant to the growth

industries and jobs that are leading California into renewed prosperity.

Thank you for your participation in the LegiSchool experience and, by extension, your participation

in the public policy making process. It is my fervent hope that this experience will be one which will spark lifelong civic engagement

within each of you – promoting a more informed electorate and a strong democracy.

Sincerely,

Darrell Steinberg President pro Tempore

19th annual Essay Contest: Climate Change

According to some scientists, the earth’s average temperature

has risen by almost 1.5 degrees in the last 100 years. It may seem

small, but this increase has led to many changes in our weather. To

address the impact of climate change, California is implementing

landmark legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions and in-

creasing the use of renewable energy. In addition, many local gov-

ernments are creating climate action plans to prevent and adapt

to the effects of climate change. LegiSchool invites you to join in

the conversation. What efforts are your communities undertak-

ing? Could more be done? What is your role in combating climate

change? Ten winning essayists will be invited to spend a day at the

Capitol on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 and discuss their viewpoint

with policymakers. Look for essay contest details in October: csus.

edu/calst/contest.html.

Postmark deadline is Friday, January 17 , 2015.

Photo Contest: California Through My Eyes

How do you envision California? LegiSchool wants you to step

behind the camera lens and show us! Capture an image that

represents California to you. The photo can be of a person, place

or thing – the sky is the limit! The grand-prize winner will receive

$150 and four runners-up will receive $100 each. Complete

details in March: csus.edu/calst/contests.html

Postmark deadline is Friday, May 1, 2015.

An issues-oriented civics curriculum promoting dialogue, participation and critical thinking

The ElectionsTuesday, October 28, 2014, Sacramento

In 1971, Congress ratified the 26th Amendment, lowering the fed-

eral voting age from 21 to 18. The amendment was the quickest

amendment ever ratified, illustrating this nation’s enthusiasm for

giving young people a voice. In the spirit of the 26th Amendment,

LegiSchool is hosting our very own election. Learn about the

candidates and the issues at this interactive town hall. Find out

what the parties have to say about the issues you care about. Fol-

lowing the meeting, students will participate in a mock election.

Do you want your voice heard? Sign up to attend this town hall

meeting today!

High Speed Rail SummitFriday, December 5, 2014, Fresno

By 2029, California aims to have a high-speed rail system that

will run from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours.

The $68 billion ‘bullet’ train is envisioned as a legacy transporta-

tion project that will create jobs, bolster economic activity, lower

carbon emissions, and connect two major cities in California

through the Central Valley. Yet much controversy exists around

the project, including criticisms about cost and the loss of farm-

land as well as the fear that when the train is complete, it will be

neither fast enough nor convenient enough for people to use. In

spite of the controversy, the project is moving forward with the

first phase of construction occurring in the Central Valley.

LegiSchool invites students from this region to attend our High-

Speed Rail summit. Come learn more about the issue, talk to the

experts, hear from local lawmakers and form your own opinion

on the ‘bullet’ train.

The Future of the Corrections System in California Wednesday, February 4, 2015, Sacramento

California’s growing prison population became a crisis in 2006,

when the state prisons were at 200% capacity. Since then, Cali-

fornia has made huge policy changes in an effort to drastically re-

duce the prison population. Yet even with a nearly 25% reduction

in the population since 2006, prisons remain overcrowded. In fact,

there are still around 117,000 inmates in state correctional facilities

that were built to accommodate just 80,000 people. Policymakers

have many ideas about how the state can deal with this pressing

policy issue. Possible solutions include providing more rehabilita-

tion, building more prisons or changing our criminal laws. How-

ever, there is large disagreement about what solution will work

best. That is why LegiSchool invites you to weigh in on the debate.

What solutions do you want to see in place? What does the future

of corrections in California look like to you?

19th Annual Student Legislative Summit Climate ChangeWednesday, April 22, 2015, Sacramento

Droughts, severe weather, melting glaciers…we’ve heard the news

on climate change and now it is your chance to talk about it! 10 win-

ning essayists writing on this topic will be invited to the State Capitol

to talk with experts about what our state and local communities are

doing to prevent further climate change and adapt to the changes

we currently see in our world. Join the conversation that is happen-

ing in California and around the world and write your essay today!

Please see the “contests” section for more details.

2014-15 Calendar of Events

Special Thanks to Our 2013-14 Participants:

A very special thank you to our curriculum guide consultant, Dr. Mimi Coughlin of Sacramento State; as well as our panelists: Sena-

tor Carol Liu; Senator Holly Mitchell, Assemblymember Rocky Chávez; Assemblymember Shannon Grove; LeAnn Fong-Batkin,

California Department of Education; Sarah Henry, Next 10; Susan Meisenhelder, California Faculty Association; Devin Murphy, a

political science student at UCLA and all of our partners in the education and public service community.

An educational collaboration between Sacramento State and the California State Legislature

Real World Civics Summer InternshipExperience State Government in Action!

Each year, LegiSchool organizes the Real World Civics Sum-mer Internship, a five-week exploration of state government. During the internship a small group of students from the Sacramento area have the opportunity to go beyond the books and experience state government first hand. Students spend 2 weeks interning in a state Senate or Assembly office and 2 weeks in an Executive branch agency. In addition, students attend Court Camp where they gain an in-depth look at the judicial branch. Students gain practical skills from the internship and an overall understanding of public service, state govern-ment and the political process. Please visit our website at

csus.edu/legischool for program details and applications.

Application postmark deadline: Friday, April 17, 2015

Teacher of the Year! Steve White, Marysville High SchoolLegiSchool is pleased to announce our Teacher of the Year award, established to celebrate educators in California who engage their students in matters of public policy and state government. Our inaugural award went to Mr. Stephen White, a dedicated teacher of 16 years at Marysville High School, who has used his teaching career to prepare students to be engaged and informed citizens. Mr. White received a Senate resolution commending his exceptional and dedicated service to students.

This year, LegiSchool will select another educator for our award. We are looking for teachers who are committed to civic education in their classroom, inspiring students to be active and engaged in their communities. Look for

nomination forms in the spring!

2014 Real World Civics Summer Interns:

Tara Benson-Jones, Mira Loma High School; Marilu Bravo, Pleasant Grove High School; Johan Cardenas, Valley High School; Jack Roselli, McClatchy High School; Alina Sanchez, West Campus High School; Thaddeus Turner, Valley High School; Madison Vanderklay, McClatchy High School.

Mr. Steve White speaks to his Marysville High School students. Photo Credit: Appeal-Democrat

An issues-oriented civics curriculum promoting dialogue, participation and critical thinking

Each video is accompanied by a Video Viewing Guide, which includes two pages of critical-thinking exercises and pertinent vocabulary for teachers to use as an assignment for students. All videos and materials can be found online at csus.edu/calst/legischool_project.html

The Voting Process: YOU Have the Power!This energetic eight-minute video gives stu-dents a step-by-step look at California voting procedures. The goal of the video is to give young, first-time voters the knowledge and confidence to become involved in our most cherished constitutional right, the democratic process. Registration, absentee ballots, re-sources (websites, phone numbers, etc.) and demonstrations of the three prevalent forms of voting systems in our state are given a thorough treatment.

The Initiative ProcessThis eight-minute video takes a step-by-step look at the initiative process and provides a strong message of civic involvement and personal empowerment. Daylight saving time and the banning of nuclear power plants are just two of the examples provided that illustrate the power of this important political tool of the people. Thomas Jefferson stated that “there is no safer depository of the ultimate power of society but the people themselves”—a frank recognition of the important role the initiative process plays in making law and placing the public in power to set this state's political agenda.

Checks & Balances: The Three Branches of State GovernmentThis 10-minute video is geared toward help-ing students learn more about how our state

legislative process works. The main premise for the lesson is that, as in the federal government, the framers of our state’s constitution wanted to be sure that no one branch of government would have too much power, so they divided the powers of the government into three equal branches.

How a Bill Becomes LawProduced by the California Channel, this 10 minute video uses AB 2268, the Bicycle Hel-met Law, to describe how a bill becomes law in California. Ideal for high school students, the video introduces concepts such as how a bill is authored, the process of first, second, and third readings, and how legislation is assigned to various committees within the Legislature.

State Government for Beginners Handout Binder Looking for good, basic handouts about state government and the legislative process? Then this binder is for you!

Easy-to-duplicate handouts include:

• Legislative terminology.

• A diagram and step-by-step description of the legislative process.

• A sample bill with instructions on how to read legislation.

• Voter registration and elections information.

• Useful state government and political websites, and much more!

All LegiSchool videos and materials are now available online! Check out csus.edu/calst/legischool_project.html for more details.

FREE State Government Curriculum Materials Offered by The LegiSchool Project and The California Channel

"Every citizen, not just government officials, has the duty to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, but you cannot preserve what you have not studied, you cannot protect what you do not comprehend, you cannot defend what you do not know."

— Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy

How to attend aLegiSchool meeting

LegiSchool frequently invites small groups of students from around California to partic-ipate in Town Hall Meetings. Limited travel money is available from LegiSchool for this purpose. If you are interested in attending a LegiSchool meeting and spending the day learning about the legislative process, please contact us at (916) 278-6906 or send an email to terra.townsend@csus.edu. If you are particularly interested in a specific meeting, please indicate so. If the opportunity arises for you and your students to attend a meeting, you will be contacted by LegiSchool staff.

Look for us on Facebook (facebook.com/legischool), Twitter and Instgram (@LegiSchool)

Be Engaged and Get Informed! Do you know the law?AB 60 (Alejo), signed by Governor Brown: requires the DMV to issue driver’s licenses to persons who do not have a social security number or other proof of legal presence in the US, including undocumented immi-grants. Instead, documents such as passports or birth certificates from the applicant’s home country will be accepted.

SB 113 (Jackson), signed by Governor Brown: if passed, would lower the age at which a person may pre-register to vote from 17 to 16, provided the person meets all other eligibility requirements.

SB 194 (Galgiani), signed by Governor Brown: prohibits drivers under the age of 18 from using a phone while driving, even if it is equipped with a “hands-free” device. Previous law allowed the use of hands-free devices.

SB 270 (Padilla), in the Assembly: if passed, would prohibit stores from providing single-use carryout bags to customers. Requires stores to provide reusable bags for no less than 10 cents per bag, including bags made of thick plastic, paper or other materials.

SB 484 (Bonilla), on the Governor's desk: establishes the Measurement of Academic Performance and Progress (MAPP) in lieu of the existing state standardized tests for students. MAPP is aligned with the Common Core standards and the assessment may be used by the end of the 2014-15 school year.

For a list of legislative terms, please click here: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/quicklinks/glossary.html

For more information about LegiSchool:California State University, SacramentoThe LegiSchool ProjectCenter for California Studies6000 J StreetSacramento, CA 95819-6081

(916) 278-6906terra.townsend @csus.edu

Visit the LegiSchool website: csus.edu/calst/legischool_project.html

Mission

The LegiSchool Project is a civic education collaboration between California State University, Sacramento and the California State Legislature, administered by the Center for California Studies. The Project’s mission is to engage California’s high school students in matters of public policy and state government by creating opportunities for students and state leaders to meet and share ideas on issues affecting Californians. In doing so, we hope to motivate young people to take an interest in the public life around them and to encourage their active participation in our political process.