Study Shows Project Citizen Promotes Students’ Civic Development
On the Road
All Member Meeting Recap
May Coalition Member Spotlight
New Members
Continued Progress on Civics Policies Across States
States continued a steady march toward stronger K–12 civic education this spring. Several states implemented minimum course requirements for civics, while others allocated resources for teacher training or started new civic excellence programs. Our final tally for this legislative session includes 151 bills impacting K–12 civic education in 35 states. Nearly three-fourths (109) of the bills align with the CivXNow Policy Menu.
Six states already crossed the finish line with stronger civics policies:
Alabama’s $1.75 million injection into the state budget fuels a continued partnership between Troy University and the American Village Citizenship Trust. This program equips Alabama high school students with a solid grasp of U.S. history and government, and also offers teachers a "Civics Education Micro-credential.”
Indiana SB211 passed on the last day of session and was signed into law by Governor Holcomb (R) on March 13. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jeff Raatz (R), creates a new "Excellence in Civic Engagement" designation for graduating high school students.
Kentucky high schoolers now have a choice. Previously, they had to pass a 100-question civics test based on the U.S. Citizenship exam. Thanks to House Bill 535, sponsored by Representative Robert Duval (R), students can now choose between that test and taking a credit class in civic education. This law also makes the existing test a bit tougher by raising the passing score from 60% to 70%. The bill was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear (D) on April 9.
Missouri’s General Assembly passed HB 2002, which included $500K for educator professional development in “civics and patriotism.” This was the second year of funding for this new line item and it was supported by the Missouri Civic Learning Coalition.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed HB 171 into law, updating high school graduation requirements to include an additional semester of social studies and civics.
As of this writing, two states are still considering substantial measures to boost K–12 civics:
Michigan, where CivXNow staff led appropriations requests for professional development for K–12 civic educators. Committee chairs in both chambers agreed: $1M in the House School Aid Budget and $5M in the Senate School Aid Budget. The conference committees are currently negotiating final numbers prior to the close of session this month.
California SB1094, which passed the Senate last week, requires one civic engagement experience with a governmental institution in both elementary and middle school. It moves next to the House, which adjourns in August. Californians for Civic Learning is leading the charge to pass this critical measure to prepare K–8 students for their high school civics experiences, including the State Seal of Civic Engagement.
Stay tuned for further updates on Michigan and California, and join our ongoing efforts to build civic learning coalitions in all 50 states to strengthen K–12 civic education.
Federal Update: Building Civic Bridges Act
The Coalition officially endorsed the Building Civic Bridges Act, introduced with bipartisan Senate cosponsorship late last month. Our policy team, along with many CivXNow partners, continues to engage the bill’s champions to cultivate additional support and raise its profile on a monthly basis.
Under the proposed legislation, an Office of Civic Bridgebuilding would be established within Americorps. Schools, government, and nonprofit organizations serving K–12 students would be eligible for grants from the Civic Bridgebuilding Pilot Grant Program.
We believe that this bill will help pave the way for future bicameral, bipartisan work that positively affects civic education.
As we near our country’s 250th anniversary, we need to work together across lines of difference for the benefit of the common good and to sustain and strengthen our constitutional democracy.
Study Shows Project Citizen Promotes Students’ Civic Development
Project Citizen, a signature Center for Civic Education program where students research and develop solutions to school or community problems, increases students’ civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions, along with social and emotional learning (SEL) and STEM skills. These findings emanate from a three-year study (2020–2023) of the program led by Georgetown University’s political science professor Diana Owen. The study, which followed 180 schools, 196 teachers, and more than 5,000 middle and high school students, validates inquiry-centered, project-based learning as a powerful means to facilitate students’ civic development.
Among the study highlights:
Students’ civic knowledge increased by an average of 62% in middle school and 38% in high school, significantly higher than those enrolled in traditional civics courses;
Students demonstrated a greater understanding of contemporary public issues (civic skills);
High school students showed higher trust in government and media and were more likely to express an interest in government service and running for office (civic dispositions);
Middle and high school students improved problem-solving and civic expression skills (SEL skills); and
Project Citizen students grasped how to use STEM skills to address community problems and connected STEM and civics classes.
On May 10, we visited Denver to lay the groundwork for a state coalition with community members who share a common vision for advancing civic education in Colorado. We had the pleasure of connecting with educators and advocates who are deeply committed to promoting civic literacy and civic engagement.
During the trip, we engaged in a thought-provoking discussion about the importance of empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills to actively participate in their communities while problem solving for the low attendance rate of students. We brainstormed ideas for collaboration and identified key areas where our coalition can make a meaningful impact. We left the meeting feeling energized and optimistic about the possibilities that lie ahead.
We invite you to join the conversation: whether you’re a teacher looking to enhance civic education in your classroom, a student eager to get involved in your community, or a concerned citizen passionate about democracy, your voice matters. Stay tuned for updates or contact CivXNow State Policy Lead Diana Leo at diana.leo@icivics.org to get involved.
CSIS Civics at Work
On April 30, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) held a half-day Civics at Work Summit, highlighting the role of business in sustaining democracy. The event featured a fireside chat between David Rubenstein, Co-founder and Co-chair of the Carlyle Group, and Richard Haas, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Kettering and Rockefeller Democracy Is Not Partisan
On May 9, the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation, hosted the most recent installment of the Kettering Conversations on Democracy series, “Democracy Is Not Partisan,” in Washington, D.C. The event brought together thought leaders and practitioners from across the democracy space to discuss three central themes: governing across partisan divides, maintaining democratic principles within a fracturing movement, and the importance of institutions.
All Member Meeting Recap
Our May meeting brought together over 80 coalition members to share updates on our Coalition work and discuss opportunities for collaboration including:
We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
May Coalition Member Spotlight
One of the central premises ofTheRoadmap to Educating for American Democracyis its design challenges, including telling a plural, yet shared story; civic honesty; and reflective patriotism. Each year, the campaign Civic Season embodies these values, bridging our newest national holiday, Juneteenth, with one of our oldest, the 4th of July.
Our coalition partner, Made by Us, leads this effort and many CivXNow partners participate. Together we mobilize a movement to understand our past and shape our future.
Are you interested in hosting your own Civic Season activity? Visit theFor Orgs page and follow the steps to make it happen.
Are you interested in promoting an existing activity?Check out the All Activities page to find out what your peers are doing.
Are you interested in having some fun with Civic Season?Check out the Play page and let loose!
We remain deeply appreciative of member efforts and all that we accomplish together. Our goal is to aggregate and activate large networks of support to expand and re-imagine civic education as a force for civic strength. To our members, thank you for your partnership.
If your organization is interested in joining CivXNow or in learning more, please contact us atCivXNow@icivics.org.
Our Mission
CivXNow is a coalition of partners from diverse viewpoints working to create a culture shift that elevates civic education and engagement as a national priority in order to protect and strengthen America’s constitutional democracy. This includes building a shared commitment to ensure that all young people are prepared to assume their rights and responsibilities to participate in civic life and address the issues facing students, their families, and communities in our increasingly dynamic, polarized, and digital society.
To achieve this goal, CivXNow advocates for bipartisan federal and state legislation that supports implementation of state and local policies that reimagine and deliver relevant, inclusive, and engaging K–12 civic learning, both in- and out-of-school.
A Team Effort
The CivXNow team produces this newsletter each month.
We are grateful for the energy, time, and guidance of the CivXNow Advisory Council and to many, many others who support individual projects.
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