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Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee 
 
Testimony in Support of SB 762 
 
February 13, 2024 
 
To the Honorable Members of the Maryland Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment 
Committee, 
 
My name is Julie A. Rosen, and I live in Montgomery County Maryland. I submit this letter to express 
my strong support for Senate Bill 762, which aims to establish the Maryland Seal of Civic Excellence 
program. 
 
As an advocate and long-lived learner in Maryland –from kindergarten through PhD awarded from the 
University of Maryland, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of civic education. Civic 
knowledge and engagement are crucial for the health of our democracy and the development of 
responsible, informed citizens. However, these areas often receive insufficient emphasis in our 
educational system. 
 
The Maryland Seal of Civic Excellence program represents a vital step forward. By formally 
recognizing students who excel in their understanding and participation in civic life, we can: 
 
● Motivate students to engage more deeply with civic education and activities. 
● Highlight the importance of being informed about local, state, and national issues. 
● Encourage schools to prioritize civic learning in their curricula. 
 
As a child of the 1960s, my formal education complemented the informal education about civics 
absorbed through community action ‘on the streets.’ My first exposure to the power of the people in 
the community was the successful outcome of a teachers action that improved the working 
environment of dedicated teachers, as well as the eye-opening explanations of why ‘people power’ is 
so important. And that all happened before the protests across the country in the late 60s. That 
exposure happened over 50 years ago, but equivalent issues and collaborative, community 
discussions are crucial today; perhaps even more wide-spread and urgent with the impact –good and 
bad—of social media’s mis- and dis- information.  
 
I recognize the findings of The State of Maryland’s Civic Education: Final Report from Maryland’s 
Civic Architecture Symposium* that “The state of Maryland is distinguished from other states 
nationally… The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) requires that students earning a diploma 
must acquire “three credits including one credit in United States history, one credit in world history, 
and one credit in local, state, and national government aligned with the Maryland High School 
Assessment for government.”” However, sitting in a classroom does not guarantee absorption of the

important and implementable principles of a Civics curriculum. Students can be encouraged by 
community –as well as education—members if their absorption is supported through participation at 
school- and extracurricular- activities; activities that require additional time and attention that may be a 
challenge for the more vulnerable students in disenfranchised populations (including African 
Americans, women, lower socio-economic groups, and people with disabilities. The metrics identified 
in SB762 elaborate the benefit (seals and diploma recognition, among others) of such participation, 
and the longer-term nature that a civics education requires to take hold in the adults that we hope our 
students will become.   
 
In conclusion, SB 762 is not just about recognizing deserving students; it's about investing in the 
future of our democracy and ensuring that our young people are prepared to contribute positively to 
society. I urge the committee to support the passage of this bill, paving the way for a more engaged, 
informed, and civic-minded generation. 
 
Thank you for considering my testimony. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Julie A. Rosen, Ph.D. 
[EMAIL] 
[ 
* https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DCAA/SocialStudies/CivicsReport.pdf