On May 11, 2024, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) hosted the California Civic Learning Student Showcase and Award Ceremony at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Museum, and Birthplace in Yorba Linda, CA. The event featured student civic engagement presentations and projects centered around their local communities. After the presentations, the showcase culminated with a number of award presentations.

This year, students at Towers Elementary School in the Torrance Unified School District, Sotomayor Arts and Science Magnet in the Los Angeles Unified School District and Newton Middle School in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District received LACOE’s Civic Engagement Recognition with certificates for individual students.

“Engaging students in high quality civic learning is paramount to preparing young people to become informed, responsible, engaged citizens.  The California Democracy School Initiative recognizes and celebrates schools and districts that make this a priority for all their students. Congratulations to all!,” said Michelle Herczog, Coordinator III for LACOE’s History-Social Science division.

The following schools were recognized as California Democracy Schools for engaging students across one or more grade levels in high quality civic engagement projects:

From El Segundo Unified School District:

• Richmond Street School
• Center Street School
• El Segundo Middle School

From Hacienda La Puente Unified School District:

• La Puente High School

The highest award, the California Democracy School District award, was given to the Anaheim Union High School District. This district award recognizes an entire school district when all schools within the district have been individually recognized as California Democracy Schools.

About the California Demoracy Schools Project

The California Democracy School Project, originally funded by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, is designed to institutionalize civic learning in elementary, middle, or high schools to prepare ALL students for college, career, and citizenship in the 21st century. The project strengthens existing initiatives including the Common Core State Standards, the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, Partnership for 21st Century Learning, and the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. It can also assist schools in preparing students to earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement.