Common Sense Schools

Our goal is to recognize those schools committed to creating a culture of digital teaching and citizenship. Common Sense Schools earn an official stamp of recognition by showing commitment to creating a culture of digital teaching and citizenship. We've made one addition to the Common Sense School criteria for the 2017–2018 school year: one more hour of professional development with a digital teaching focus.

What is the process?

Part I: Prep

Create a school vision including digital teaching and digital citizenship.
Develop a Common Sense School implementation plan. You will be asked to enter the implementation details in the Common Sense School application. The implementation plan should include all criteria outlined in the following steps.

Part II: Learn, Do, Connect

1

Learn

Provide professional development to all educators on digital teaching and digital citizenship. PD may be conducted in person (by school staff) or online, using Common Sense Education resources. In-person PD may be combined to cover both topics. For a resource list, see the FAQ in the Help Center or read below:

Complete the digital citizenship training.
Work through a short Tech Tips & Resources page.
Attend or watch the archive of an edWeb webinar.
Attend an in-person training by Common Sense staff, a PD partner, or an Ambassador.

2

Do

Lead digital citizenship instruction. Schools have two options to meet student-instruction criteria:

On two grade levels, teach all students five Common Sense lessons, Digital Passport™ modules, or Digital Compass storylines or two Digital Bytes;
Or on three grade levels, teach all students three Common Sense lessons, Digital Passport modules, or Digital Compass storylines or two Digital Bytes.

3

Connect

Engage parents school-wide and educate them in three distinct ways. See the Connected Families Program or the FAQ in the Help Center for suggested outreach.

Save at least three pieces of documentation from your efforts implementing: professional development, digital citizenship student instruction, and/or parent outreach to submit with the Common Sense School application.

Applying on behalf of educators?

School project leads have the option to upload a Teacher Worksheet doc and apply on behalf of the educators who have completed the new Common Sense Educator criteria. Before completing, please:

Review the new Common Sense Educator criteria.
To assist, take note of the drop-downs and notes within the Teacher Worksheet.
Review the FAQ in the Help Center for further details and an instructional video.

After they submit a Common Sense School application, project leads will receive an email with detailed instructions on how and where to upload the Teacher Worksheet.

Ready to apply?

Ready? Apply here once all criteria outlined above are complete. Once you apply, you will hear within two weeks whether your application has been approved. With your approval email, you will receive a badge and an image of a banner for your school to print out.

Apply now

Questions?

Please read through our FAQ in the Help Center. If you have further questions, please post in the Common Sense Education Community or email [email protected] and enter Recognition in the subject line.