Seven Orange County schools have been recognized by the California Courts system for their efforts to engage students in civic learning.
These campuses are among 70 statewide honored with state Civic Learning Awards for encouraging students through projects and other programs to learn more about drought awareness, recycling, crime and drug prevention, and other issues affecting Californians today.
South Junior High in the Anaheim Union High School District won the Award of Distinction, the second highest honor. Anaheim’s Dale Junior High and Savanna High won Merit Awards, as did Oxford Academy in Cypress, El Dorado High in Placentia, Laguna Beach High School and Santiago Charter Middle School in Orange.
Now in their sixth year, the awards are co-sponsored by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson to celebrate public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning.
“It is inspiring to see so many schools developing the next generation of leaders through civic education,” Cantil-Sakauye said in a news release. “In the end, civics education promotes civic engagement.”
Launched at the 2013 Civic Learning Summit, the awards have recognized more than 200 schools.