"We the People: Project Citizen is a curricular program for middle, secondary, and post-secondary students, youth organizations, and adult groups that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process, they develop support for democratic values and principles, tolerance, and feelings of political efficacy." - from the Center for Civic Education
Delaware has provided training on Project Citizen for teachers and community organizers and sets of text books for a number of years. The Program was a part of the Delaware Department of Education until 2005, when administrative responsibility was transferred to DELREC.
Last year, we focused on working with a group of community organization in Wilmington, including the Kingswood Center, the Latin American Community Center and Neighborhood House. These community based programs were supervised by law students from the Widener University School of Law. In addition, DELREC supervised a program with the Fire Explorers Club. The projects with Kingswood and the Explorers will continue in 2007-2008.
In 2008, DELREC hopes to reach out to a number of middle schools around the state and will hold a Project Citizen Showcase for middle schools in December.