It's Civics Week for New York City Students

Students at all grade levels throughout New York City are about to get an extra dose of civics education, as the de Blasio Administration rolls out its first Civics Week — part of the DemocracyNYC initiative to promote civic participation.

Public schools will choose from a list of events, like poster and public speaking contests, town halls and participatory budgeting, based on the needs of communities. 

"Every school is different, the moment in the school year is different for each school, the moment in the school community," said Ayirini Fonseca-Sabune, the city's recently-appointed Chief Democracy Officer. "So each school will choose from this menu of options and figure out what works best for them and how they can best engage their students and their community."

Civics Week also includes voter registration drives at high schools and colleges. Students who aren't 18 yet are allowed to register if they will turn the legal age this calendar year.

Fonseca-Sabune said the goal is to make civic engagement a habit.

"We know when young people register to vote early, when they participate, when they're civically engaged in their schools, that they'll build that practice for life," she said.