Project Community
Community Engaged Learning
Why use Project Community in your classroom or with your student group?
Project Community is an interdisciplinary curricular program for middle, secondary, and post-secondary students, youth organizations, and adult groups that promotes informed and responsible participation in local and state government agencies. The program guides participants through the process of how to monitor and influence public policy. Through this process, participants develop the skills that support democratic values and principles, tolerance, and political efficacy.
photo courtesy of The Center for Civic Education
Level 1
Suggested for grades 5–8, Level I emphasizes the fundamentals of the public policymaking process, step by step. Culminating in a simulated public hearing on students’ project portfolios.
■Connect with real world problems and events
■Integrate a variety of related ideas and skills
■Multi-Disciplinary
■Authentic Assessment directly correlated to instructional activities
■Cooperate with peers in group settings
■Program has built in clear and attainable goals
■Students evaluate their own progress through self-assessment
■Parent and Community involvement
■Research with a purpose
■Critical thinking
How does Project Community Work?
An entire class of students or members of youth or adult organizations work cooperatively to identify an issue within their community. They then research the problem, evaluate alternative solutions, develop their own solution as a public policy, and create a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities to adopt their proposed policy. Participants develop a portfolio display or e-portfolio of their work and present their project in a public hearing showcase before a panel of civic-minded community members. Many of the student groups involved in the program take the next step of direct civic engagement by presenting to public officials, attempting to influence them to adopt their policy proposal and create positive change in their community.
Level 2
Suggested for secondary students (grades 9–12) or adults, Level 2 introduces students to the citizen’s role in the public policymaking process. The program culminates in a simulated public hearing with students showcasing their project portfolios.