As part of New York State’s civic-readiness initiative, the Copiague School District is one of a few select schools in the state that is now offering the Seal of Civic Readiness distinction on high school diplomas. The Seal of Civic Readiness is a formal recognition that a student has attained a high level of proficiency in terms of civic knowledge, civic skills, civic mindset and civic experiences. To be awarded the seal, students need to earn points throughout their middle school and high school years that demonstrate civic knowledge and civic participation.

As part of this initiative, all seventh graders and select eighth graders in the Copiague Middle School will work toward completing a civics capstone project in their social studies classes. During these projects, students will identify, research and develop an action plan related to an issue or problem in the community. By completing this capstone project, students can be awarded one point toward earning the Seal of Civic Readiness before they enter high school.

According to Dr. Allison Weller, Copiague Middle School social studies chair, the ultimate goal of the project is to provide students with a multitude of learning activities and research skills that will allow them to develop civic knowledge and civic mindsets so as to better prepare them to become informed and engaged citizens at the local, state and national levels.

Date Added: 11/30/2022