Mark your calendar; Sept. 17 marks Constitution Day

The U.S Constitution enters its 222nd year Sept. 17, the date in 1787 that the Constitutional Convention adopted the guiding document for the national government. Constitution Day offers a “teachable moment,” particularly in a presidential election year when so much attention is focused on the nation’s future.

State and federal law require school districts and county offices of education to provide an educational program on the Constitution for their students on that date each year. Commemorative exercises, schoolwide assemblies, informative pamphlets or class time designated for information on the Constitution are all suggested measures for meeting the legal requirement and engaging students in their government.

Related links:

• The California Department of Education has Constitution Day resources @ www.cde.ca.gov/ci/hs/im/constdayresources.asp.
• The U.S. Department of Education has resources @ http://free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=19.