July 26, 2008
Legislators in the Classroom Make a Difference
A new study shows that America's Legislators Back to School program is having a positive impact on students.
NEW ORLEANS - Each year, state legislators from across the country visit classrooms and bring civics to life in the America's Legislators Back to School program. As the Back to School program approaches its 10th year, a new study demonstrates that legislators who visit classrooms improve students' knowledge and appreciation of American democracy.
A new study, commissioned by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and conducted by Turcotte Public Administration Consulting and Training, LLC (TPACT), examined the impact of the America's Legislators Back to School program on participating students' understanding and appreciation of representative democracy. Evaluators tested middle school students in Louisiana (Fall 2006) and Wyoming (Spring 2008).
In both states, students who participated in the America's Legislators Back to School program scored significantly higher than control groups who did not have a classroom visit on concepts such as appreciation of the right of every citizen to be heard by his or her representatives; the procedures a state legislature uses to resolve differences about public policy including debate, negotiation, and compromise; and representative democracy is a system in which individuals vote to elect representatives to an assembly that represents the people in deciding issues.
The report showed students score higher in knowledge and appreciation of representative democracy when legislators and teachers use the recommended lessons, materials and address the program objectives.
"We have known for a long time that students, teachers and legislators love this program. Now we have a scientific evaluation that shows bringing legislators into classrooms improves understanding and appreciation of our system of democracy," said Jan Goehring director of the Back to School Program.
The America's Legislators Back to School Program was initiated in 1999 to provide a contemporary approach for engaging American students in understanding the value of democracy. Funded by the National Conference of State Legislatures' Trust for Representative Democracy, the program annually sponsors state legislators' visits to schools. NCSL provides educational materials about representative democracy for legislators to use in their presentations to K-12 classes. NCSL also provides training, promotional strategies, lesson plans, and organizational support for state coordinators and legislators.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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