First Amendment Schools

Educating for Freedom and Responsibility

Eligibility

Applications to become a First Amendment Affiliate School are welcome from K-12 public and private schools in the United States.

Selection Criteria

Successful applications indicate strong support for the four principles of the First Amendment Schools project as outlined in the Vision Statement. Schools are not expected to have fully implemented these principles. Rather, they are asked to work toward creating a school culture that takes democratic freedom seriously.

Completing and Submitting the Application

The application must be completed by a team of at least three individuals at the school. The team must include the principal, and should also some combination of students, teachers, parents, or administrators.

Completed applications will be reviewed and notified of their application's status in a timely manner. For any additional questions, please contact Sam Chaltain at 703.284.2808 or schaltain@freedomforum.org

Part I - School Profile

School Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

School Level:

Elementary Middle School High School

Grade Levels:

Enrollment:

Type of School:

Public Indepedent Sectarian
Independent Non-Sectarian

School Community:

Rural Urban Suburban Other

Number of staff by role:

Administrators
Teachers
Guidance Counselors
Support Personnel

Percentage of Students:

American Indian/Alaskan Native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Black (not of Hispanic origin)
White (not of Hispanic origin)
Multiracial
Undesignated

Percent of students qualify for free/reduced lunch.

Percent of body are LEP students.

Percent of students receive financial assistance (if applicable).

Part II - Educating for Freedom and Responsibility

In 250 words or less, why is your school interested in joining the First Amdendment Schools Network? What do you hope to gain from this collaboration?

In 500 words or less, please describe one "best practice" at your school that helps demonstrate your commitment to creating a laboratory of democratic freedom. How was this practice developed? Who benefits? What is the evidence of your success?

Part III - Commitment Statement

We, the undersigned have the read the Vision Statement, First Amendment Schools: Educating for Freedom and Responsibility, and discussed the benefits and responsibilities of a First Amendment Affiliate School. We wish to join the First Amendment Schools Network because we believe:

That the future of the American republic depends upon instilling in young citizens an abiding commitment to the democratic first principles that sustain our experiment in liberty;
That freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition are fundamental and inalienable rights, and that all Americans have a civic responsibility to guard these rights for all citizens;
That the First Amendment provides the civic framework of rights and responsbilities that enables all Americans to work together for the common good in schools and communities; and
That a society commited to freedom and justice for all requires citizens with the knowledge, virtues and skills needed for active engagement.

We will work to model and apply these principles throughout our school community, to the best of our abilities.

Principal Name
School Name

	Affiliate School Application PDF
	FAS Network Information