Generation Citizen has been selected by the Department of Defense to partner with Education Development Center to engage students from military-connected families in civic inquiry in a project known as Supporting Readiness through Vital Civic Empowerment, or SRVCE. 

This partnership was selected as one of 15 organizations to receive a share of $47 million that was awarded through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering as part of the National Defense Education Program in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Biotechnology and Enhanced Civics Education. Other partners include the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM and the National Association for Media Literacy Education, with further support from the Law and Public Safety Education Network, the National Career Academy Coalition, the Senior Executives Association, and U.S. Vets. Additionally, a team of advisors on military and public service, civics, social studies, media literacy education, curriculum development, and professional learning will also contribute their expertise to SRVCE.

The award will support the development and piloting of a five-module civic learning and engagement curriculum for military-connected schools over a two-year period.

Generation Citizen works nationally in New York, New England, Oklahoma, Texas, and California to bring high-quality, experiential and action-based civic learning to underserved students.

GC CEO Elizabeth Clay Roy said of the partnership, “We are so pleased to collaborate with EDC on this vital project. Generation Citizen’s mission is to ensure that every student receives a high-quality civics education that incorporates service learning and community leadership, and we are excited to now include military-connected students and families in our work.”

The work has already begun with schools and teachers are being recruited to pilot the unique curriculum that blends inquiry-based civic learning, media literacy education, and exploration of public service careers to prepare students to be active citizens and thrive in the workforce. For more information about the National Defense Education Program and the recent awards, visit  https://www.cto.mil/news/47-million-grants-ndep/.