Middletown Area Middle School is concentrating on renewing the civic mission in their school by encouraging participation in school activities, projects, and clubs with the belief that doing so will contribute greatly to student knowledge and promote self-efficacy. One such activity is the YMCA Youth & Government Program.

The purpose of the program is to bring the workings of state government alive to students. It is a one-year training program that affords students the opportunity to discuss current state issues with state administrators, elected officials, and students from 35 schools and YMCAs in the state in order to learn to fulfill certain roles at the Model Legislature Conference at the end of the program.

Students are given the responsibility of planning, implementing, and leading the conference and must learn parliamentary procedure and the duties of elected Pennsylvania officials. They must stay up to date on current affairs, so as to learn to voice their opinions on those events, learn how to write a bill, vote on a bill, run for office and vote for office. Other roles include those of Supreme Court Justices that hear oral arguments from teams of attorneys, while others learn to be lobbyists and to influence legislation for the purpose of representing their assigned constituents.

Teacher Kevin Little, sponsor of the program at Middletown, chose this program because it strives to develop competent and responsible citizens by providing instruction in government, history, law, and democracy all contributing to an increase in civic knowledge.  The goal is ultimately to teach students to be informed and active members of their government and their communities.