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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18
Relating to the Seal of Civic Recognition award.
Whereas, the state of Missouri recognizes the core
importance of education focused on patriotism, ethics,
morality, and civics; and
Whereas, the state celebrates commitment on a local,
state, and national level on the part of our state's
graduating seniors; and
Whereas, the state desires to support such education
and graduating seniors by awarding a "State of Missouri Seal
of Civic Recognition" to each senior who graduates from a
public school, private school, parochial school, or home
school and who meets the specific criteria for various
levels of the Seal of Civic Recognition; and
Whereas, the state hopes and expects that such award
will garner recognition of such student's efforts in the
form of scholarships, financial assistance, internships,
apprenticeships, and other similar awards to aid such
student's pursuit of future education and vocational or
professional career opportunities; and
Whereas, to further support the state's matriculating
students' embrace of a strong ethical civic education, the
state exhorts nominating entities and individuals to assist
recipients of a Seal of Civic Recognition in efforts to
further vocational or professional preparedness; and
Whereas, the state of Missouri desires to commend a
commitment to our beautiful state and this nation through
service in the Armed Forces of the United States, with the
full and joyous expectation that, after such student's term
of service to this state and our nation, the student will be
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heartily welcomed home with open arms by a grateful
citizenry:
Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the members of the
Missouri Senate, One Hundred Third General Assembly, Second
Regular Session, the House of Representatives concurring
therein, hereby create the "State of Missouri Seal of Civic
Recognition" program; and
Be It Further Resolved that nominations for
consideration for a Seal of Civic Recognition may be
submitted to the Office of College and Career Readiness at
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:
(1) By civic or veteran organizations, businesses, or
interested individuals;
(2) By a school after a student's progression from
grade six upward in participating public schools, private
schools, parochial schools, or home schools;
(3) Before such student's graduation from grade twelve
in a participating school; and
(4) By the nominating entity's or individual's
submission of documentation that the student qualifies for a
Seal of Civic Recognition under the program; and
Be It Further Resolved that a graduating senior shall
be eligible for a designated level of the Seal of Civic
Recognition if such senior accomplishes the following:
(1) Complete at least two, four, or six school years
of documented combined academic instruction in functional
moral and ethical local, state, and national governance,
national and world history, or curriculum selected by the
Office of College and Career Readiness at the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education;
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(2) Engage in active participation in school
governance and community civic engagement through civic,
veteran, and other community organizations;
(3) Participate in mentorship programming offered by
local, state, and other government officials and civil
servants;
(4) Participate in a school-, community-, or church-
sponsored "Seal of Civic Recognition Club or Team" focused
on reinforcing and building on such educational instruction
and participatory activities, such as FFA, American Legion,
Kiwanis, Adoremus, and similar clubs and organizations; and
(5) Make a formal commitment to, upon graduation,
participate for at least one year in some form of community
or national civic or military service; and
Be It Further Resolved that a graduating senior who
accomplishes the requirements to be eligible for a Seal of
Civic Recognition shall be awarded such Seal by the Office
of College and Career Readiness at the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education in the following
designations:
(1) For completing at least two but fewer than four
school years of the required instruction, a Bronze Seal of
Civic Recognition;
(2) For completing at least four but fewer than six
school years of the required instruction, a Silver Seal of
Civic Recognition; and
(3) For completing at least six school years of the
required instruction, a Gold Seal of Civic Recognition; and
Be It Further Resolved that a Seal of Civic Recognition
shall accompany such student's high school diploma; and
Be It Further Resolved that the state encourages
entities that nominated a student who receives a Seal of
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Civic Recognition to provide some level of agreed-upon and
stipulated support for such student's future vocational or
professional preparedness after the student's matriculation,
which support may be in the form of direct scholarship
assistance, mentoring, accommodations, apprenticeships,
internships, or other similar incentives to aid such
student's progress toward professional or vocational
advancement; and
Be It Further Resolved that a student who is a
recipient of a Seal of Civic Recognition and who commits to
serve our nation in military service directly or through
enlistment in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
program will receive a "Letter of Congratulations,
Commendation, and State Gratitude" signed by the Governor,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
Lieutenant Governor of the state of Missouri; and
Be It Further Resolved that this resolution be sent to
the Governor for his approval or rejection pursuant to the
Missouri Constitution.