The 2008 Presidential Election is upon us
and Social Studies teachers at all grade levels should be looking
for ways to capitalize on this historic event
as an election year provides us with the opportunity
to really hone in on those social studies concepts of
citizenship and civic participation.
At right are resources teachers can use
to engage students in the exciting dialogue
being generated by this particular election year
as well as foster in our young Americans
that value so integral to a successful democracy
- a citizenry well-educated on the issues.
AUSTIN ISD
2008 ELECTION
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sept. 15 - 19: Celebrate Freedom Week
- Austin ISD's Mock Election activities begin
- Mock Election Voter Registration Drive begins
- TYLA volunteers bring Vote America documentary and curriculum to assemblies or classrooms,
teaming up with 11th and 12th grade teachers. TYLA volunteers will also be deputized and ready to register eligible young voters!
Monday, the 15th, Vote America premiere that the state capitol.
Twenty students, grades 11 and 12 from each Austin ISD high school attending. 
September 17:
Constitution Day
Download List of Resources
In addition to the lessons found in this important new video-documentary produced by the Texas Young Lawyers' Association, students will hear the messages brought by special guests as well as enjoy capitol tours.
October 20 - 24
- District Mock Election Week window.
October 24
- All results must be submitted by Friday, October 24.
October 27
- Austin ISD Election results reported along with school districts statewide in the Texas Secretary of State's Project V.O.T.E. program.
October 30
- Austin ISD Election results reported in conjunction with the National Student / Parent Mock Election.
[Photo] Several Austin ISD Social Studies faculty were deputized following a special faculty screening of Vote America during their District-Wide Staff Development at Akins High School. The deputtizing ceremony was conducted by Cheryl Reese, Volunteer Coordinator with the Travis County Voters Registration Office.
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TYLA Documentary brings
the crucial history of securing
Voting Rights in U.S.
to Austin ISD High Schools
The Texas Young Lawyer's Association [TYLA] is providing 11th and 12th grade teachers a perfect method of complying with the requirements of Constitution Day as well as the HB1776 mandate (Celebrate Freedom Week) this year with the release of its new video documentary & curriculum, Vote America Austin ISD students will be among the first to see the new film project prior to a state-wide rollout.
Vote America! Honor the Fight, Exercise Your Right
an 11th and 12th grade curriculum and video project (the Texas curriculum satisfies TEKS requirements) is made possible by the Texas Young Lawyers Association. To remind us of our civic duty, Vote America! educates students as it traces the heroic efforts made by African-Americans, women, Mexican-Americans, and the youth movement of the '60s in the struggle for equality and democracy. The struggles of the civil rights era, passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 15th, 19th, and 26th amendments to the U.S. Constitution are all chronicled in this historical video. Vote America! continues a longstanding tradition of the TYLA's commitment to producing quality, law-focused education programming for the citizens of Texas and beyond. For more information on this project, or a TYLA-sponsored presentation at your school, please contact the TYLA office.
- Download flyer, VOTE AMERICA
- View Preview, www.tyla.org/VoteAmerica
© AISD, 2008 /