App Launched To Boost Student Interest in Congress

The Student Governmental Affairs Program (SGAP), which provides high school government teachers with materials about current events, is launching a mobile app for students.

SGAP is a nonprofit arm of National Write Your Congressman, which gives teachers free, nonpartisan classroom materials on issues and bills that the United States Congress is considering. Among the materials it provides are a monthly newsletter that students can discuss in class, information that teachers can use to stimulate further discussion and a polling process they can use to gauge their students' positions on issues in relation to others in the country.

The SGAP app, which will be downloadable from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, will feature:

  • A discussion board that the 200,000 students across the country involved with the program can use to engage in conversation with each other on political issues;
  • A My Reps tool that will give students both information about the political positions of their elected representatives as well as a way to communicate with them; and
  • A Tasks and Achievements feature that will give students points for completing tasks like writing to members of Congress or local elected officials, taking polls, participating in online discussions or attending meetings of local city councils or state legislatures.

The app will also allow teachers to track students' activities on the app and potentially reward them for civic participation.

Randy Ford, president and co-founder of SGAP, said, "We believe the app will elevate the student experience by encouraging them to connect with other SGAP students, learn more about the political process and make a difference in their communities."

About the Author

Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.

Featured

  • digital learning resources including a document, video tutorial, quiz checklist, pie chart, and AI cloud icon

    Quizizz Rebrands as Wayground, Announces New AI Features

    Learning platform Quizizz has become Wayground, in a rebranding meant to reflect "the platform's evolution from a quiz tool into a more versatile supplemental learning platform that's supported by AI," according to a news announcement.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • Abstract AI circuit board pattern

    Nonprofit LawZero to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

    Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.