OVERVIEW INFORMATION
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Who are we? The Kentucky Council for the Social Studies (KCSS) is organizing the Kentucky Civic Education Coalition (KCEC). What are we doing? We are building a non-partisan coalition of nonprofits, educators, business and community leaders, think tanks, universities, and other partners committed to preparing all students to be informed, engaged participants in civic life. If you support civic education in Kentucky, KCEC is your way to help! We are coming together to advocate on behalf of civic education legislation/policies, funding, and resources. We strive to create bipartisan collaboration that will strengthen civic education in public schools and; likewise, will work together to ensure successful implementation of said policies. Just like our state motto--united we stand, divided we fall--by collaborating with the bluegrass’ leaders, educators, and advocates for civic learning, we can stand together and make Kentucky a national example of civics as a core component of every young person’s education.
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Informational MeetingLearn more about the vision and planned structure for KCEC, as well as ways you can get involved.
Watch the recording here: KCEC Informational Meeting Sign up for Updates
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MISSION
Our mission is to promote civic education and engagement in Kentucky by convening a broad range of stakeholders committed to building support for legislation, funding, and policies that promote high quality and civic learning opportunities for students, teachers, and communities.
VISION
We envision a state where all students have opportunities for high-quality civic education that prepare them to be thoughtful, informed, and actively-engaged members of their communities, locally and beyond.
What are our goals?
- Advocacy: Collaborate with policymakers to ensure Kentucky students have access to authentic, high-quality civic education.
- Professional Community: Build a community of practice with organizations to provide resources, professional development, and civic learning programming.
- Public Engagement: Build public awareness of the importance and needs of meaningful civic education; create pathways between the community and schools.
How will we operate?
At present, our main focus is capacity-building. We have been convening the Executive Committee regularly, where we discuss ways to advocate, build capacity, and grow our impact. Going forward, we hope to provide additional opportunities for engagement across our networks.
At present, our main focus is capacity-building. We have been convening the Executive Committee regularly, where we discuss ways to advocate, build capacity, and grow our impact. Going forward, we hope to provide additional opportunities for engagement across our networks.
Current Projects
We recently received a grant from CivXNow (the advocacy arm of iCivics). With these funds, we have begun curating standards-aligned resources (link coming soon!), conduct workshops with pre-service educators and at the KCSS Fall Conference, and are developing a civic seal program with Kentucky's Secretary of State.
We recently received a grant from CivXNow (the advocacy arm of iCivics). With these funds, we have begun curating standards-aligned resources (link coming soon!), conduct workshops with pre-service educators and at the KCSS Fall Conference, and are developing a civic seal program with Kentucky's Secretary of State.
CONTACT
For more information about KCEC, email the coalition chair, Carly Muetterties and/or KCSS.
Organizational Structure
KCEC is housed under KCSS, a 501(c)3 organization and must abide by lobbying restrictions, meaning lobbying is not a “substantial” part of the organization’s activities, as defined by the IRS. (See more here). Rather, our focus is on advocacy -- elevating our voices about civic education with policymakers or the public. Advocacy can entail: Grassroots organizing, public education, public education, policy research, lobbying, position papers or statements on issues, voter registration, coalition participation or building, and election activities.
The chair and co-chair of KCEC is determined by the KCSS officers (President, Vice President, Secretary).
KCEC is housed under KCSS, a 501(c)3 organization and must abide by lobbying restrictions, meaning lobbying is not a “substantial” part of the organization’s activities, as defined by the IRS. (See more here). Rather, our focus is on advocacy -- elevating our voices about civic education with policymakers or the public. Advocacy can entail: Grassroots organizing, public education, public education, policy research, lobbying, position papers or statements on issues, voter registration, coalition participation or building, and election activities.
The chair and co-chair of KCEC is determined by the KCSS officers (President, Vice President, Secretary).
Executive Committee
- Michael Adams, Secretary of State
- Michon Lindstrom, Director of Communications
- Greg McNeill, Senior Advisor
- Lauren Gallicchio (Heather Ransom), Kentucky Department of Education Academic Program Consultants for social studies
- As designee for Commissioner Jason Glass
- Rachel Platt (Megan Schanie), Frazier History Museum
- Scott Alvey (Jodi Lewis), executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society
- Glenn Manns, State Coordinator, Kentucky: We the People and Project Citizen, former president of KCSS
- Julie Kuhnhein, Kids Vote NKY
- Jami Martinez Reynolds, Elizabethtown High School, Assistant Principal of Academics
- Sarah McIntosh, Jefferson County Public Schools, School Board member
- Harmony Hendrick, elementary teacher, standards advisory panel
- Jennifer Barlow, Burgin Independent High School teacher
- Daniela DiGiacomo, University of Kentucky professor, specialization in civic education
- Richard Young (Stephanie Mobley), executive director of CivicLex
- Kevin Presnell, instructional coach, Madison County; Prichard Committee Fellow
- Wallace Caleb Bates, Kentucky Department of Education Division of Communications, EKU Communications student
- Pragya Upreti, UNC-Chapel Hill student; Senior Advisor to the KY Student Voice Team
- Ryan New, Instructional Lead for social studies, Jefferson County Public Schools, parent of Kentucky students
- Kay Hedrick, Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC), Educational Design Coordinator
- Adam Webster, Logan County High School teacher
- Amy Olson, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Youth Services Consultant
- Paul Bartels, Ashland, Henry Clay Estate, Tours & Education Manager
- Mark Neikirk, Director of the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement, NKU
- Susan Weston, League of Women Voters
- Richard Clay, The Filson Historical Society, President and CEO
- Ashleigh Hazley, Muhammad Ali Center, Senior Manager of Programming and Community Engagement
- Amanda Pile Chism, Vice President for the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association
- Andrew Danner, Former President for KCSS
- Carly Muetterties, KCEC chair