Back to School Program Works!

By Jan Goehring

The America's Legislators Back to School Program works. It improves students' understanding and appreciation of representative democracy according to a new study.

NCSL contracted with Turcotte Public Administration Consulting and Training, LLC (TPACT) to conduct a controlled study, in Louisiana and Wyoming, of the effects of the Back to School Program. TPACT devised a study to test students' knowledge and appreciation of representative democracy before and after a legislator's visit to the classroom. In these "intervention" groups, an observer watched the presentation and kept track of how the legislator used the messages and resource materials offered through the program. TPACT also gave the tests to control classrooms that did not experience a legislators visit.

The evaluation shows that the America’s Legislators Back to School program results in significantly higher levels of understanding and appreciation of representative democracy among middle school students. These higher levels of achievement and appreciation are possible when legislators and teachers use the recommended lesson types and materials, and address the intended program objectives.

NCSL's Trust for Representative Democracy sponsors the Back to School Program. For  information about other Trust activities take a look at Trust Trends.