EDUCATION
New Mexico leaders push to create civics seal on high school diplomas
Seal would recognize high school seniors who excel in civics coursework or community engagement
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New Mexico education policymakers want to honor high school seniors with exceptional achievements in politics, government and social studies by creating a new civics diploma seal.
Seals on high school diplomas are used to recognize students’ achievements in coursework or extracurricular fields. New Mexico currently only offers a bilingual diploma seal for students who complete advanced coursework in a foreign language.
“We really felt like this was the perfect time to focus on a civics diploma seal,” said Mandi Torrez, education reform director at nonprofit think tank Think New Mexico. “We already have so many students who are going above and beyond in getting involved in their communities, and this gives them a chance to really be recognized.”
Civic leaders — including New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver — will gather at the University of New Mexico at the New Mexico Civics Symposium on Friday to discuss the possibility of a civics seal for high school graduates.
Arizona, California, New York, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia already have civics diploma seals, according to the National Council for the Social Studies.
Torrez said she hopes a bill to create the seal will be heard by the state Legislature during next year’s 60-day session.
“We’re trying to get ahead of the game as far as we can,” she said.
Policymakers hope the civics seal can be part of a push for a more appealing, useful curriculum, which may serve as a potential solution to New Mexico’s chronic absenteeism problem.
“Kids are calling for relevant learning,” Torrez said. “It makes school more engaging and makes learning more fun.”
In addition to serving as an important achievement for high schoolers, the seal is a way the state can prepare graduates for careers in public service, said Jami Nelson-Nuñez, chair of UNM’s political science department.
“Around the world, democracy is backsliding,” Nelson-Nuñez said. “It’s time for people to be extra engaged in policy spaces, and to build the skills of young people to feel optimistic and efficacious, to be able to be part of our governing systems.”
Natalie Robbins covers education for the Journal. You can reach her at nrobbins@abqjournal.com.
