What does it mean to be college, career, and civic life ready?

Photo credit: https://sites.psu.edu/hannarcl/

In our work with teachers, parents, and students, we talk about habits of mind, the differences between deliberation, discussion, and debate, and the need for listening to different perspectives in order to publicly problem solve and find common ground. The English Language Arts Framework asks that students are college, career, and civic life ready. This third C is so important. What does it mean to be civic life ready? How can we expect our kids to respectfully disagree and learn from each other if we aren't willing to lead by example?

Here is an excerpt from the 3Cs California Framework:
"To act as informed voters, serve as responsible jurors, and participate in policy making decisions, students need the knowledge and skills to interpret and communicate ideas and negotiate and collaborate in ways that positively impact democratic policies, practices, and other people’s lives. The ability to read complex text allows students to acquire extensive content knowledge about historical events and democratic ideals, processes, and institutions. The ability to interpret and understand key ideas, diverse perspectives, points of view, and various philosophical constructs offered in written or spoken form allows students to identify and draw logical conclusions, analyze logical fallacies, and take positions based on rational arguments. Providing students with opportunities to engage in discussions about controversial issues empowers them to formulate opinions and take a stand, paraphrase information, articulate complex ideas representing various points of view, and practice the art of civil discourse. Writing develops students’ ability to express complex ideas and articulate arguments in an organized, coherent manner. Language arts skills are not an end in themselves; they are a means to strengthening students’ abilities to think critically and respond meaningfully to important issues, which is fundamental to a democratic society."

So, tell us, what does it mean to be college, career, and civic life ready?