Student Governmental Affairs Program Connects DISD High School Students to Congress
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) May 16, 2016 -- Student Governmental Affairs Program (SGAP), the nonprofit arm of National Write Your Congressman, is partnering with Dallas Independent School District (DISD) to provide more than 16,300 students at 41 DISD high schools with SGAP’s civics engagement program, which is used in classrooms in all 50 states. Through a bipartisan newsletter, students learn both sides of current congressional issues and are asked to vote “yes” or “no” on the issue via a ballot that is sent to their congressperson, thereby promoting voter registration and active citizenry earlier in life. A mobile app furthers the learning experience as it enables SGAP students to connect with other students across the country, as well as with their local representatives.
“We are excited to bring SGAP to students and teachers in our own backyard with DISD,” said Randy Ford, president and co-founder of SGAP. “We know the SGAP program enhances the learning experience for both the teacher and the student, as we provide new material each month that is relevant to what is going on in the world around them. The material is nonpartisan, but it instigates conversation in the classroom and encourages students to learn more about the political process.”
Through this new initiative with the Student Governmental Affairs Program (SGAP), Dallas Independent School District high school students will be able to participate in the SGAP program at no charge to DISD starting this fall. Recent topics discussed in the monthly newsletter include the Paris Climate Agreement and Apple vs. FBI over unlocking the iPhone.
“The SGAP program will help DISD teachers engage students in critical thinking on current issues in U.S. government by challenging them to justify and defend their positions on current legislative issues in Congress,” explained Robert Edison, director of social studies at DISD. “I believe it will be a valuable resource to DISD teachers as they prepare Dallas students for college, careers and civic life. DISD looks forward to providing SGAP to Dallas students to help them understand why civics engagement and citizenry are so important to our country’s and community’s future.”
For more information about the program, please visit: sgap.org.
About Student Governmental Affairs Program
SGAP, the nonprofit arm of National Write Your Congressman, provides high school government teachers a free, nonpartisan, factual, current events supplement for engaging students in the classroom on the application of bills in Congress. The materials, including a monthly newsletter, online presence and interactive app are designed to empower students to voice their opinions on current issues and become interested in what is happening in the world today. SGAP is currently used in schools in all 50 states reaching more than 200,000 students annually, with an estimated 3.1 million engaged since inception. For more information, visit us at sgap.org, like us on Facebook.com/sgapvoice or follow us on Twitter @SGAPvoice.
Meredith McKee, Minerva Consulting, 972-238-7798, [email protected]
Share this article