Overview

The first Kentucky Summit on Civic Literacy was held on October 5, 2004 at Northern Kentucky University, attracting more than 170 participants from all across the state. Those in attendance included interested citizens, high school and college students, teachers, administrators, representatives from colleges and universities, and elected officials including Governor Ernie Fletcher and Secretary Grayson. This vast array of participation clearly demonstrates the Commonwealth’s depth of concern about getting young Kentuckians more fully engaged in the civic life of their local communities, the state, and the nation.

The participants clearly fulfilled the mandate of the Kentucky General Assembly that the Summit should “include a diverse range of student, teacher, and administrator representatives from K-16 education, media, civic organizations, and elected officials.” Among the participants were:

• more than three dozen students from five high schools and six colleges or universities;
• 23 teachers and administrators from 17 P-12 schools;
• 25 faculty members and administrators from eight colleges or universities;
• six elected officials, including the Governor and the Secretary of State;
• 30 administrators and staff members from 12 state and county agencies;
• 11 representatives from educational organizations;
• 12 representatives from 10 non-educational, non-profit organizations;
• three editors or media executives; and
• at least a half-dozen interested citizens who listed no affiliation.

The day began with national experts, local teachers, and leaders of community organizations highlighting some of the superb teaching materials and wonderful opportunities for civic engagement that are available and, in some cases, are already being used in some schools and some communities within Kentucky. Among those discussed were:

• We the People ... the Citizens and the Constitution
• Kids Voting: USA and Kids Voting: Kentucky
• The University of Virginia Center for Politics’ Youth Leadership Initiative
• Teen Court

Other experts highlighted the challenges facing the Commonwealth and America with respect to the low levels of civic literacy and engagement amongst young adults. The following facts were among those cited:

• Kentucky is one of only eight states that include civics in its state system of educational accountability.
• Even though the number of students performing well in Kentucky testing has improved dramatically since 1999, the overall average remains lower than desired.
• The youngest voters, ages 18-24, are the least likely to vote even if they have registered to do so. Less than 23 percent of Kentucky’s registered 18-24 year olds voted in the 2002 general election.
• Although more than one-third of Kentucky college students serve as volunteers with non-profit organizations, their level of volunteerism has declined by 11 percent since 2001.

After a full day of presentations and discussion, the participants overwhelmingly joined Secretary Grayson in asserting that: “Today’s Summit meeting is not simply a one-time event. It must be the beginning of a multi-year process that will involve ever-greater numbers of Kentuckians in addressing the critical need to get young people more actively involved in the Commonwealth.”

That view is evident in the following assertions the participants endorsed at the close of the Summit.

• A widespread knowledge of civic processes (civic
literacy) and a willingness to become actively involved in these processes (civic engagement) are essential to maintaining the representative form of democracy we enjoy in the United States and in Kentucky.

• P-16 schools play an important role in developing civic literacy and encouraging civic engagement. However, families, community organizations, government agencies, and businesses must also assume some responsibility for promoting civic literacy and civic engagement.

• Faced with mounting evidence within the state and the nation that the level of civic engagement among young adults is lower than it is in any other segment of the population and with disheartening test scores related to civic literacy, the public and private sectors in Kentucky must unite in strengthening the civic mission of our schools and in promoting civic engagement by citizens of all ages.

• Efforts to enhance civic literacy and civic engagement must combine theory and practice. For example, programs that center only on constitutional principles or political theory can foster civic literacy without encouraging active participation. And, service learning or internship programs that put students to work in the community can sometimes do so without explaining to them why their involvement is important or how their work fits into the bigger picture. Kentucky needs citizens who both understand and actively engage in the democratic processes of their community, state, and nation.