News and Insights
Mapping Civic Education: Key Findings from the 2026 CivxNow State Policy Scan
- Andrea Benites, iCivics Mid-AtlanticState Policy Lead, and Sydney Moore, iCivics Policy Associate
Each year, CivxNow completes a comprehensive review of K–12 civic education policies at the state-level. Using state policy recommendations from the CivxNow State Policy Menu, our team surveys social studies specialists, CivxNow state coalition partners, and/or other educational professionals in each given state to verify the most up-to-date state policies.
Insights
- Mike Dean, Director, Minnesota Programs, iCivics
As noted when this year’s state legislative sessions were wrapping up, states have been answering the call for stronger civics in this 250th year, many through civic seals. This was particularly true in Montana, where the Seal of Civics Literacy came as a result of the state’s 250th commission working
- Abbie Kaplan, Director, Federal Policy, Strategy, and Operations, iCivics
Earlier this month, CivxNow, in partnership with colleagues at the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), took to Capitol Hill with a clear, unified mission: advocate for the future of civics, social studies, and history education. The energy, dedication, and passion of the group of advocates who joined us
- Shawn Healy, Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer, iCivics
The moment we’ve been building toward is finally here: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But the 250th also represents a call to action for our own times, ensuring that each member of our society has the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to sustain
- In a Constitution Day event hosted by the Federal Bar Association at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned about the lack of investment and decline in civic education.
- More than one-third of adults still cannot name the three branches of government, according to the annual Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey, released on Constitution Day.
- Many states like Alaska now require civics and constructive dialogue in classrooms, but more than half of students say that they self censor because of peer pressure, according to new survey results by the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute.
- Sept 2026: K–12 Civics Policy News: 50-State Scan, District Research, and AI
- Aug 2026: Strengthening Civics: Seals, New Assessment & Policy News
- July 2026: Advocating for Civics: Highlights from D.C. and Beyond
- June 2026: Advancing Civic Readiness on the Eve of America 250
- May 2026: Building State-level Momentum for the 250th and Beyond
- Apr 2026: From the Classroom to the Statehouse: Celebrating Educator Allies
- Mar 2026: The Afterglow of Civic Learning Week: Research, Policy, and More
- Feb 2026: March Momentum: Civic Learning Week, Research, and Coalition Spotlight
- Jan 2026: Fresh Perspectives for a New Year of Civic Learning
- Dec 2025: Our 2025 Impact: Celebrating Wins and Planning the Road Ahead
- Nov 2025: Civic Education This Season: Bridge Divides and A250 Prep
- Oct 2025: Civic Consequences of AI and Experiential Learning Research


