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Rialto students earn 118 State Seals of Civic Engagement; students urge more ethnic-studies opportunities
Summary
Rialto Unified officials said the district awarded 118 State Seals of Civic Engagement this year; students presented projects tied to multicultural literature and urged broader access to ethnic-studies classes and civic learning experiences including serving as poll workers.
Rialto Unified School District officials and student leaders highlighted the district's civic-engagement work at the June 24 board meeting, reporting that 118 students were awarded the California State Seal of Civic Engagement this year.
"The state seal of civic engagement recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional civic knowledge, responsibilities, values, and engagement," said Dr. Ayana Balagon, the district's director of equity and social sciences. She told trustees the district has partnered with local civic organizations and that more than 1,200 students across the district participated in civic-engagement learning experiences, including voter-registration instruction and serving as poll workers.
Carvon Allen, a multicultural literature teacher at Rialto High School, introduced student leaders who described projects that moved learning beyond the classroom. Grace Graham, vice president of the Civic Engagement Club, said her project sought to encourage student interest and make civic learning feel relevant: "We've always told kids that they can make a difference," Graham said. "I don't want students to keep shrugging their shoulders. I want them to figure out what matters to them."
Student presenters described mock trials and community research, and the board heard that for the first time in district history all comprehensive high schools participated as poll workers; interest produced a waiting list for that hands-on experience. Students and teachers asked the board to continue supporting civic-engagement programming and to expand ethnic-studies course offerings so more students can participate in sustained civic learning.
The board received the presentations and praised the students and staff. No formal policy changes were acted on at the meeting; trustees asked staff to share materials (including a project website) and to continue encouraging civic opportunities.
The presentations are part of an ongoing district effort to connect coursework with community engagement and to certify student civic experience through the State Seal of Civic Engagement.
