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Organizational Policies of Civics Partnership Advisory Council

ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES OF THE
CIVICS NEBRASKA PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL

(Approved: November 3. 2006)

1.00 THE CIVICS NEBRASKA PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL.
The Civics Nebraska Partnership Advisory Council (CNPAC) is an advisory body to the Nebraska State Board of Education. Its membership is appointed by the State Board from individuals and representatives of organizations sharing the guiding principles of the Council. The State Board of Education reserves unto itself sole authority over civics curriculum requirements for school accreditation and approval. The CNPAC shall be established as of March 1, 2007 (“Effective Date”).

2.00 GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
In rendering advice to the State Board, the Council will be guided by the following principles:

2.01 The civic involvement of an educated and informed citizenry is critical to maintaining a free and democratic society.

2.02 It is the proper role of schools to educate students about the structure of American government and its philosophical underpinnings, and the structure of state and local government in Nebraska.

2.03 It is the proper role of schools to foster informed participation in the civic life of our nation, state, and localities.

2.04 It is the proper role of schools to foster love of country in which the essential genius of its foundation is strengthened by informed and constructive criticism of our country’s mechanisms and policies, and further to encourage the exercise of constitutional rights and responsibilities.

2.05 Utilization of methods such as service learning, discussion of current events, or simulations are useful to civic education when conducted in a non-partisan manner.

3.00 PURPOSE.
As an advisory body to the State Board of Education, CNPAC will advise the State Board regarding the following:

3.01 Methods to help ensure that civic education is a part of a well-rounded education for Nebraska students.

3.02 Methods to help improve the education of students on the importance of citizen involvement in a representative democracy.

3.03 Methods to promote the study of national, state and local government among the state’s citizenry.

3.04 Methods to enhance communication and collaboration among organizations in the state that conduct civic education programs and among civic education professionals.

3.05 Methods that support quality teacher education and professional development in order to ensure effective classroom civic education instruction and raise student achievement.

3.06 Methods for supporting and assisting with the P-16 alignment of social studies curriculum, including civics education.

3.07 Methods for identifying civic education programs, projects, and resources in the state and providing technical assistance as may be necessary.

3.08 Standards for civics education.

3.09 Board Policy as it relates to civic education.

4.00 STATUTORY AUTHORITY.
Appointments to the CNPAC are made by the Board pursuant to its authorization. Section 79-318(9), R.R.S.,

5.00 MEMBERSHIP.
The State Board of Education shall appoint all voting members of the CNPAC. Membership will consist of 13 voting members and one ex-officio non-voting member. Each member of the State Board of Education shall nominate one person, who shall reside within that member’s district. A representative shall be nominated from each of the three branches of state government. A representative shall be nominated by the University of Nebraska. A representative shall be nominated by a statewide nonprofit organization whose purpose directly relates to civic education. The social studies coordinator of the Nebraska Department of Education shall be an ex-officio non-voting member. Notwithstanding the term for which a CNPAC member was appointed, the State Board of Education may remove any voting member of the CNPAC at any time. Initial members of the CNPAC shall be appointed no later than February, 2007, or as soon thereafter as is practicable.

The nomination of members shall be in accordance with the following provisions:

5.01 University of Nebraska system.
One (1) representative shall be nominated from the University of Nebraska system, who shall be a member of the history or political science faculty of the University of Nebraska and whose area of specialty is American history or American government. The representative shall be nominated by the University President.

5.02 State Government.
One (1) representative shall be nominated from each of the three branches of state government. Individuals shall be nominated as follows:

5.02A The Executive Branch. One (1) individual shall be nominated by Governor to represent the Executive branch.

5.02B The Judicial Branch. One (1) individual shall be nominated by the Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court to represent the Judicial branch.

5.02C The Legislative Branch. One (1) individual shall be nominated by the Chairperson of the Executive Board of the Legislature to represent the Legislative branch.

5.03 Statewide Non-Profit Organization
One (1) representative shall be nominated by a statewide non-profit organization interested in civics education. The organization making the nomination shall be selected by the Commissioner of Education.

6.00 LENGTH OF TERM; REAPPOINTMENT.
The initial members of CNPAC shall be appointed for the following terms: Members representing the University of Nebraska, the Legislative branch, the Executive branch, the Judicial branch, and the statewide non-profit organization, shall each be appointed for a term of three years. Appointments of those nominated by State Board of Education members representing odd numbered districts shall be appointed for one year. Appointments of those nominated by State Board of Education members representing even numbered districts shall be appointed for two years. Upon expiration of the initial terms, all subsequent appointments shall be for three years. All appointments shall be subject to the reauthorization of CNPAC from time to time. All members of CNPAC may be reappointed upon expiration of their terms.

7.00 INTERNAL ORGANIZATION.
The CNPAC shall establish a chair and a secretary each by majority vote of all member of the CNPAC. The internal organization of CNPAC shall otherwise be determined by the CNPAC membership upon a majority vote of all members.

8.00 MEETINGS OF CNPAC; REPORTING TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The CNPAC shall meet no less frequently than quarterly each year. Meetings of the CNPAC shall be subject to the Open Meeting Act and public notice of said meetings shall be made by the Recording Secretary by placing a notice of the meetings and a link to the agenda on the “Meetings and Conferences” web page of the NDE website and posting a notice and agenda in the notebook reserved for that purpose on the NDE receptionist’s desk copy 5 days in advance of the meetings. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the Chair subject to the requirements of the Open Meetings Act.

Minutes of all meetings shall be kept and shall be provided to members of the State Board of Education within thirty (30) days after each meeting.

A written and oral report from CNPAC to the State Board of Education shall be made annually, containing a summary of the work of CNPAC in the preceding twelve month period and any recommendations to the State Board of Education by CNPAC. The oral report shall be made to the State Board of Education at its May meeting. The written report shall be provided to members of the Board no less than 30 (thirty) days prior to the presentation of the oral report.

9.00 VISITORS COMMENT PERIOD.
At each meeting of CNPAC, there shall be a visitors’ comment period at which time those members of the public wishing to address CNPAC shall have an opportunity to do so, subject to procedures adopted by CNPAC. The chair shall have the right to limit discussion in order to facilitate the work of CNPAC.

10.00 INITIAL TERM; REAUTHORIZATION.
The CNPAC shall be in operation for an initial term of three years from and after the Effective Date. The operation of the CNPAC may be reauthorized by the State Board of Education for subsequent three-year terms.

11.00 EXPENSES.
CNPAC member expenses for attendance at CNPAC meetings or presentations to the State Board of Education shall be borne by the State of Nebraska in accordance with state approved expense guidelines.

Updated December 20, 2019 11:34am