Talking Points on the Need to Restore the Civic Mission of Schools

Congressional Conferences on Civic Education
Fifty-State Campaign to Promote Civic Education

"Democracy needs to be reborn in each generation and education is its midwife."
John Dewey, 20^th Century Education Theorist

Preparation for citizenship and the workplace are the twin missions of public education in the United States

Each state's constitution or public education establishment statutes and codes acknowledge the civic mission of schools.

Americans profess that the civic mission of schools is an essential, if not the essential, purpose of education. Over the course of 33 years of Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup polling on American attitudes on education, Americans have overwhelmingly concurred with the statement that "educating young people for responsible citizenship" should be the primary goal of our schools. Their conviction that the school's central mission is educating young people for citizenship has not wavered over time, and it is consistent whether or not respondents have children in school and whether or not their children are in public or private school. (Annual Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools)

In a 2004 poll 91% of adults responded that they were more likely to support policymakers who support strengthening civic education in the schools. ("Citizenship: A Challenge for All Generations," available at www.ncsl.org, 'Trust for Representative Democracy')

Civic education helps form the attitudes of students in ways employers report seeking in their employees. Students who experience high quality civic education are more tolerant of others, more willing to listen to differing points of view and take greater responsibility for their actions and to improve their communities.

The decline of civic education in American schools

This remaining course is usually offered in the twelfth grade, which is both too little and too late. And, it completely misses the large number of students who drop out before their senior year and who are arguably in the greatest need of understanding their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

In the elementary grades civic education used to be woven through the curriculum. Today, slightly more than a third of teachers report covering civic education related subjects on a regular basis. ("Civics 2006: the Nation's Report Card," National Assessment of Educational Progress, administered by the National Assessment Governing Board)

Two-thirds of students scored below "proficient" on the last national civics assessment administered in 2006, and 72% of 8^thgraders surveyed could not identify the historical purpose of the Declaration of Independence. ("Civics 2006: the Nation's Report Card," National Assessment of Educational Progress, administered by the National Assessment Governing Board)

Although all states but one has adopted Standards of Learning in civics and government or Standards that address civic education in other subjects, a 2003 study by the Albert Shanker Institute found that the majority of what passes for state standards in the subject are overly broad, concentrate too much on the historical aspects of civic education rather then the relevance of citizenship and civic participation to students lives, and are unrealistic to cover in the amount of time a teacher is allowed to spend on the subject. ("Educating Democracy: State Standards to Ensure a Civic Core," by Paul Gagnon)

In a 2005 study of school district policies and practice, the New Jersey Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools found that only 39% of districts had a required course in civic education. The same survey found that just 35% of districts offered in-service training opportunities for teachers in civic education.

In a 2005 study of Arizona school districts, the Arizona Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools found that 53% of teachers had never been given in-service professional development in civic education. The same survey found that 64% of responding districts were just somewhat satisfied that their civic education programs were creating informed active and engaged citizens; only 17% of districts reported being highly satisfied that their programs were having the desired result. (Both Arizona & New Jersey surveys available by contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

If it isn't tested, it isn't taught

• In a 2006 study by the Center for Education Policy (CEP) of 299 representative school districts in all fifty states, 71% of the surveyed districts reported they have reduced instructional time in at least one other subject to make more time for reading and math. In some districts struggling to meet the requirements of the NCLB Act, they have had to double the amount of time allotted for reading and math, sometimes cutting out other subjects all together.

• In the CEP study some districts reported the extra time allotted to math and reading was essential to help low achieving students catch up in math and reading. A majority of districts however reported negative effects, such as shortchanging students from learning important subjects, squelching creativity in teaching and learning or diminishing activities that might keep students interested in schools.

High quality civic education courses and programs work effectively

When students receive a sustained and systematic civic education they become more knowledgeable about their government and how it affects them; more interested in politics, the news, current events and government; more capable of identifying public policies that do or do not serve their interests and the common good; more consistent in their views on policies; more critical of politics and government, developing a healthy skepticism that does not alienate them from participation but instead motivates them to participate in improving the system; more likely to participate in political and civic activities; more committed to fundamental democratic values and principles; and more tolerant of those who differ in their opinions. (Research at www.civiced.org)

The same study showed that 83% of the alumni held it was essential or very important to keep current with the news and political affairs in contrast to just 34% of college freshman that felt the same way.

In a 2003 study undertaken by the Alliance for Representative Democracy on the attitudes of students who experienced civic education courses versus students who reported not being offered civic education courses (aged 15-26), 55% of students who took civics stated that it was important to take personal responsibility for making things better in their community and nation vs. 32% of those who did not have a civics course; 54% of those who took a civics course agreed it was important to contact elected officials on issues vs. 39% of those who did not take civics. (Available at www.ncsl.org, 'Trust for Representative Democracy')

What should be done to restore the civic mission of schools

In 2003, over 40 leading civic education, social studies, and civic engagement organizations joined in the publication of "The Civic Mission of Schools," a consensus report on the problems confronting civic education along with recommendations for policymakers and educators on how to restore the civic mission of schools. The Report is available at www.civicmissionofschools.org.

To spark a nationwide movement to restore the civic mission of schools, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Center on Congress at Indiana University, and the Center for Civic Education have joined together, acting as the Alliance for Representative Democracy, to sponsor a series of national summit conferences on the critical role civic education plays in fostering civic engagement. These summit conferences, known as the Congressional Conferences on Civic Education, are funded by the United States Department of Education, and the four leaders of the United States Congress serve as co-hosts.

Delegations from all fifty states have attended the Congressional Conferences. These delegations are comprised of elected officials, policymakers, and educators. The Congressional Conferences have resulted in fifty state campaigns to restore the civic mission of schools and promote civic education.

Twenty-nine delegations have held state summits, conferences, joint legislative sessions and symposiums on civic education modeled on the Congressional Conference. These state summits have generally included small group discussion on the current and desired state of civic education in the state and agreement on ambitious plans of action to restore the civic mission of schools.

Twenty-six states have conducted thorough surveys of the current policies affecting civic education as well as existing district and state practice. These benchmark surveys have identified deficiencies the state coalitions have decided to correct through advocacy to policymakers at the district and state level.

Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Virginia have created officially sanctioned state Commissions on Civic Education or Civic Literacy.

Legislators attending the Congressional Conferences, and other legislators supportive of civic education, from 36 states have introduced legislation to strengthen civic education during the 2003-2007 legislative sessions. Thirty-five pieces of legislation have passed into law. These measures have included directives on specific course requirements, funding measures, creation of official state commissions on civic education, and legislation calling for increased attention to civic education.

More information about the fifty state campaigns to restore the civic mission of schools may be found at www.representativedemocracy.org or by contacting us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..