Cities in the Classroom

The Florida League of Cities and the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship have joined together to establish a new initiative – Cities in the Classroom. Cities in the Classroom will help restore the civic mission of Florida's schools and will strengthen the capacity of public education to develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions for young people to become engaged, effective, and responsible citizens of their cities, towns, and villages.

Cities in the Classroom has five major goals:

• It engages local government practitioners in structured programs to teach students about what city government does, how it does it, and how it impacts the lives of citizens;
• It engages students in simulations, community-based learning, and other experience-based projects that will help students learn the skills that are needed to be effective citizens;
• It has developed adaptable instruction modules, aligned to state standards, that can be used by both teachers and practitioners;
• It provides assistance to local government practitioners who wish to strengthen their classroom instruction skills; and
• It provides professional development opportunities that will help teachers understand and effectively teach about Florida local government.

Local public officials comprise a vast reservoir of knowledge and experiences relating to politics, public policy, and governance. In some communities, existing relationships between local elected officials and area schools have been in place for some time. Cities in the Classroom is building on those relationships to expand them across the state in ways that contribute to a deeper understanding of the issues, structures, and processes surrounding local governance. Cities in the Classroom is helping Florida students develop both the knowledge and skills that are essential for responsible citizenship in their local communities.

Cities in the Classroom in the News:

Dec 16, 2009 - Cities in the Classroom featured on the City of Tallahassee's WCOT.

Michelle Bono interviews representatives from the Florida League of Cities and Florida Joint Center for Citizenship about "Cities in the Classroom" (CIC) an effort to familiarize local teachers with local government so they can include the subject in civics lessons. Michelle also interviews two teachers who've participated in CIC. Watch the Video

Aug. 07 2009 Cities in the Classroom featured in Florida League of Cities, Inc. Quality Cities Magazine

Teachers Recognized for Pilot Program of Cities in the Classroom by, Lynn Tipton Read the Article

May 08 2009 Cities in the Classroom featured in Florida League of Cities, Inc. Quality Cities Magazine

Florida Cities in the Classroom: Teaching Citizens About Their City Government by, Sharon G. Berrian Read the Article

Pilot Interns

During the summer of 2009, eleven teachers are serving as pilot interns in their local government and will teach the draft curriculum during the fall semester of the 2009/2010 school year: