The Network is currently working with Kentucky public high school social studies teachers to implement standards-based units of study that were developed by the teacher network.   Participating teachers are implementing and providing reflective feedback on standards-based units of study that address Forms and Powers of Government, Origins and Branches of the US Government and/or Federalism.  Teachers who implement the units also provide feedback and data to Network facilitators related to the impact of these units on student learning and engagement with civics. The units are designed to be used in multiple social studies courses depending on how your school has aligned the social studies curriculum  Teachers are given the flexibility to implement the unit(s) as a whole or only applicable portions.  Teachers who choose to implement a unit(s) are eligible to receive graduate level credit from the University of Louisville, and will receive a stipend for their participation in training sessions and providing feedback and reflections post unit implementation.

Teachers who are interested in receiving graduate level credit will be required to follow the University of Louisville’s graduate school admission requirements. These individuals are responsible for paying tuition and related expenses. Interested teachers may use their stipend to cover graduate course expenses.  Interested and eligible teachers who received a wavier for course credit from supervising KTIP interns may apply the waiver to this work. 

Sample unit frameworks:

• Forms and Powers of Government
• Origins and Branches of the United States Government
• Federalism
• Rights, Responsibilities and Duties
• International Relations (coming soon)

In addition to implementing units.  Eighteen high school teachers aare also serving on a design team to create two new standards-based units of study.  One unit will focus on Rights, Responsibilites and Duties of Individuals in the United States and the other unit will focus on International Political Interactions.  These units should be completed by June 30, 2008.