Elizabeth Shattuck of New Visions testifies on Seal implementation
Elizabeth Shattuck leads social studies curriculum at New Visions for Public Schools and says the organization supports expanding Seal access. She offers instructional materials and professional learning, and recommends more approved project structures and rubrics.
It's okay, Jesse.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for coming today.
You're welcome.
Good afternoon.
My name is Elizabeth Shattuck, and I lead the social studies curriculum and professional learning team at New Visions for Public Schools.
New Visions has partnered with the city for 37 years on systems level change.
As an affinity partner, we support the leadership of a 71 school district, 71 school district, and we serve schools citywide.
New Visions for Public Schools strongly supports efforts to make the seal of civic readiness accessible and attainable in as many schools as possible.
We have worked with the Seal of Civic Readiness since 2018.
After serving on New York State's Civic Education and Equity Task Force, we built tools to help schools implement the SEAL.
And in the 21-22 school year, we piloted the SEAL in a small set of schools in partnership with Civics for All and Generation Citizen.
We expanded that work in the subsequent two years.
We support the effort by Education Chair...
Genowitz, to expand access to the SEAL and to hands-on project-based civic education.
Further, we stand ready to partner with New York City Public Schools to develop and provide the high-quality instructional materials and professional learning needed to make meaningful student-led civics education a reality in grades 9 through 12.
Many social studies teachers across New York State know new visions for public schools because of our free global history and U.S.
History curricula.
They are among the most widely used in the city and the state, and they foreground primary source analysis, instructional routines in disciplinary literacy, and discourse skills.
Our experience developing these materials in partnership with teachers and conducting professional learning to support effective materials use
has given us insight into what it will take to ensure the seal of civic readiness can reach all high schools in New York City.
First, throughout our work on the SEAL and Civics of Education, teachers have told us what would help.
A project structure and rubrics already approved for SEAL credit, which they could build a course around.
The Civics for All citywide approved list is the right mechanism, and there should be more materials made available through this process.
Second, teachers appreciate high-quality, engaging professional learning that supports their
ability to implement instructional materials well.
We have found that workshops grounded in specific instructional materials provide the specific support that many teachers need.
This is even more important now, as teachers are trying to learn not only about instruction, but evaluating student work in an era where students have access to AI outside school.
Finally, as many other civics education organizations have pointed out, the learning that goes into civics projects has to start as early as possible.
In the New Vision Social Studies course sequence, civic starts in ninth grade.
Our materials use ancient history to struggle with the same civic questions as the very first civilizations.
Who holds power?
How do resources get divided?
And whose interest does a system serve?
Students then apply those questions to their own communities using structured project opportunities.
New Visions applauds Council Member Denowitz and the New York City Council for taking on this important effort, and we look forward to engaging in continued support of civic readiness for all New York City students.