State College Area High School students can complete their graduation project by taking the civic knowledge they learn through National Issues Forums in the Classroom and applying it in their community.

After participating in National Issues Forums this year, three of my seniors decided to become involved in planning a community deliberative forum on transportation issues. The three students, one an exchange student from China, joined the task force of Public Issues Forums of Centre County and attended three planning meetings to craft a discussion guide for use at the forum. All three attended the event, held on a Saturday morning. Community members thoroughly enjoyed hearing what young people think.

When my students see democracy as the act of public problem solving, they become political actors with a purpose. National Issues Forums in the classroom is a methodology that directly cultivates the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that prepare students to be competent and responsible citizens.