In 2024, fewer than one in four US youth felt like they belonged to a group that expresses itself politically, and 44 percent of young nonvoters were disinterested or disliked the candidates. In a moment where many adults of all ages are dissatisfied with politics, polarization, and American governmental institutions, the state of youth civic…

While civics learning was marginalized in an era of standardized testing and fiscal constraints, more states are incentivizing students, schools, and districts to foster civics learning and engagement opportunities through civic diploma seals and school recognition programs. With an eye toward equitable implementation, these early adopters…

The authors completed a national study of K-12 civics and history education in 2021, and after collaborating with over 300 teachers, practitioners, scholars, and students, released "Educating for American Democracy: Excellence in Civics and History for All Learners." The EAD report analyzed the current citizenship education landscape and…

For over a century, schools have been hoping that instilling knowledge of the US civic system--how a bill becomes a law, the three branches of government, the history of constitutional amendments--would lead young people to embrace the concept of democracy and commit to engaging in it. Yet today, young people's trust in democratic institutions has…

At their best, state boards of education use data to drive policymaking, but achievement results related to civics are not fueling the change needed. Just 22 percent of eighth grade students across the country are working at the Proficient level in civics on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. Last administered in 2022, the…

Public schools are one of the last remaining institutions that bring people together across lines of race, class, and politics. Their civic role cannot be distilled to a single course. Embracing a broader vision means seeing school as a civic space and the everyday experience of school as an incubator of civic knowledge, skills, and commitment.…

Over the past decade, Illinois has emerged as a national exemplar of how state policy can drive systemic change in civics education. The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition, a pan-ideological alliance of educators, policymakers, and civic organizations, has shaped the state's civics education vision. The coalition built a scalable infrastructure of…

Civics education is a hot topic, as evidence shows that American young people appear to be losing faith in democracy itself. State education leaders must sort through fervent disputes on what students ought to learn and make good decisions on standards, assessment and accountability, as well as incentives for districts' selection of quality…