The Capitol Forum program, developed by Brown University in Rhode Island and currently offered in ten states, engages high school social studies students and teachers in deliberation about our nation's future in the changing international environment. The program involves students both within their social studies classroom and beyond the classroom at their state capitol.
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2009 Schedule |
Co-Sponsors |
Participate! | Photo Gallery
How It Works
Through this program, students study classroom materials focusing on global issues, such as the environment, trade, terrorism, immigration, and proliferation. Student teams from each class are then chosen to represent their schools in the statewide Capitol Forum in Olympia, where they deliberate on U.S. foreign policy and ultimately discuss their conclusions with policymakers.
After the Capitol Forum, students return to their classrooms and host their own class-wide forum on the issues they discussed in Olympia. The entire class then has the opportunity to participate in a nationwide Capitol Forum Online Ballot to compare their conclusions with students from other states. Results of the ballot are compiled and distributed by Brown University to elected officials, Washington schools, and news media later this summer.
To see how students voted, read the
- 2007 Ballot Report (PDF) (All US Students)
- 2007 Ballot Report (PDF) (Washington Students)
- 2006 Ballot Report (PDF) (All US Students)
- 2006 Ballot Report (PDF) (Washington Students)
- 2005 Ballot Report (PDF) (All US Students)
2009 Schedule
Fall Workshop
October 18, 2008 *canceled; we'll meet in
January*
Half-day professional development workshop introduces participating
teachers to the Choices approach. Extensive classroom resources are
provided. Teachers use the resources in their classroom prior to the
next planning meeting.
Pre-Forum Planning Meeting
January 10, 2009 (tentative)
Half-day meeting during which teachers review the Forum agenda and make
final plans for the Capitol Forum. Teachers continue to use the
curricular resources and facilitate specific lessons in their classrooms
prior to the Forum day.
Capitol Forum in Olympia
March 26, 2009
Student teams from participating schools report on the international
concerns of their classmates and engage in a deeper exploration of
alternative policy directions. The day culminates in a dialogue among
students, teachers, and elected officials and policymakers.
Classroom Deliberation & Balloting
April/May 2009
Following the Forum at the State Capitol, the student representatives
lead their classmates through a two-day lesson fostering deliberation of
the issues. All students in the classroom complete an online Student
Ballot on America’s Future.
Sharing of Ballot Results
June 2009
A report of the ballot results from all participating states is prepared
for participating high schools, the media, elected officials, and is
available online.
Co-Sponsors
The 2009 Washington State Capitol Forum is co-sponsored by:
- Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Secretary of State
- Social Studies Education Program, College of Education, University of Washington, Seattle
- Washington State Coalition for International Education
- World Affairs Council Global Classroom Program
Note: The 2008 program was funded in part by the 2007 State Innovations grant to the International Education Coalition from Longview Foundation and Asia Society. For details, see Projects > Capitol Forum.
Participate!
To register for the Capitol Forum 2008-09 program:
- Print the 2009 Capitol Forum Brochure (Word).
- Complete the
2009 Capitol Forum Application (Word) or
complete the Online Registration Form. - Get more in-depth information on the Choices website:
http://www.choices.edu/capitol_forum/.
Questions? Contact the state organizer:
Michele Anciaux Aoki michele.aoki@k12.wa.us
Photo Gallery
Photo from the March 30, 2006 Capitol Forum in Olympia.
View Photos from the 2005 Capitol Forum, co-sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Seattle.