"CIVITAS" is a curriculum framework that specifies core ideas for civic education in the U.S. constitutional democracy. It reviews what adults should know and be able to do to as effective citizens. CIVITAS was developed by the Center for Civic Education in cooperation with the Council for the Advancement of Citizenship and with support from the Pew Charitable Trusts. More than 60 scholars contributed to this project as consultants and authors of various parts of the book "CIVITAS: A Framework for Civic Education." This ERIC Digest highlights core ideas in "CIVITAS" on the rationale for civic education. It also addresses educational goals and substantive ideas for teachers on civic virtue, civic participation skills, and civic knowledge. (DB)