California State Seal of Civic Engagement

Criteria 1:

Be engaged in academic work in a productive way.

Students are attending classes and on track to graduate with a diploma or certificate of completion.

Criteria 2:Demonstrate a competent understanding of United States and California constitutions; functions and governance of local governments; tribal government structures and organizations; the role of the citizen in a constitutional democracy; and democratic principles, concepts, and processes

These content standards are incorporated within NMCUSD’s Government classes. Students who successfully pass their Government course will meet Criteria 2.

Criteria 3:

Participate in one or more informed civic engagement project(s) that address real world problems and require students to identify and inquire into civic needs or problems, consider varied responses, take action, and reflect on efforts

Students must complete a Civic Engagement Project with a minimum of 20 verified service hours.

There are a variety of ways to complete a civic engagement project including, but not limited to direct service (volunteering), advocacy (trying to influence decisions at the local, state or Federal level or change policy), education (raising awareness about a pressing issue or training others to implement a solution), and innovation (developing a unique solution to a persistent problem).

Criteria 4:

Demonstrate civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions through self-reflection

Students must submit a self-reflection of their Civic Engagement Project. 

The self-reflection must include: 

1. A definition of the civic problem 
2. An explanation of what the student did to address the problem 
3. A reflection about societal/systemic solutions to the problem

 

Criteria 5:

Exhibit character traits that reflect civic mindedness and a commitment to positively impact the classroom, school, community and/or society.

Students must procure a recommendation verifying that they met the following criteria: 

1. Concern for the rights and well-being of all and a desire to contribute to the common good, including members of groups historically disenfranchised by virtue of race, ethnicity, language background, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other social identity. 

2. Evidence of observed character traits that reflect civic-mindedness and a commitment to supporting the school and community.

Evidence on these points may be supported by one or more recommendations from a peer, mentor, local, state, or national official, or non-familial community member.

California State Seal of Civic Engagement Application

You will need all of the following information to complete and submit this application:

1. Personal contact information

2. Summary of your civic engagement project/ activity (Google Slides Template or Google Docs Template)

3. Unofficial transcript with your history/ social science grades

4. Community Hours Verification

*Keep all of these documents for your records.

Apply here