How can schools measure internal conditions?

• Citizenship Initiative School Inventory Form
• Characteristic 1: Core Values
• Characteristic 2: Safe and Orderly Places
• Characteristic 3: Family and Community Involvement
• Characteristic 4: Address Societal Issues
• Characteristic 5: Positive Relationships
• Characteristic 6: Engage Students’ Minds
• Characteristic 7: High Expectations

There are some basic assumptions that your team must be aware of to make this process work. While all members of the team will not have to agree with each assumption, a majority of the team will have to agree with them. The basic assumptions are:

• Our school community views citizenship as part of the school’s mission.
• Development and improvement can occur to ensure comprehensive, integrated, high-quality programs and services.

Instructions:

1. Give a copy of the self-assessment to each member of the Citizenship Team. If possible, ask additional student, family, and community representatives to complete the self-assessment as well.
2. Each member of the Citizenship Team and invited student, family, and community representative should place a mark along each of the item scales to indicate their respective levels of agreement (or disagreement) with each statement.
3. In a discussion, the group should determine a consensus score for each item. The dialogue about these issues is more important than the score.
4. Compare the consensus rating of the Citizenship Team to the ratings given by the student, family, and community representatives. You may find certain groups have very different perceptions of the current status than those of your team. The differences may warrant further investigation and discussion, and can help to pinpoint areas of strength and areas for further effort. The inventory is intended to help provide direction. Teams can decide how to use or modify the tool to best meet local needs and resources.