The 2024 state policy scan is complete and reflected on an updated CivxNow interactive national map. Since its inception, state policy scan data is used by educators, state policymakers, civic learning advocates, and the press to understand the national K-12 civic education landscape and how individual states fare on policies articulated in the CivxNow State Policy Menu.
Key takeaways from the 2024 state policy scan:
High School
As of August of 2024, 35 states and DC have statutes that require a stand-alone civics course for high school students.
Middle School
Five states require middle school students to take a stand-alone civics course. However, 46 states and DC report that their middle school social studies standards include civics, but the intensity of each state’s civics standards vary significantly.
Assessments
In 2024, 29 states reported a civics assessment requirement. Twenty states said their assessment is a graduation requirement, and the remaining nine states that their assessment tracks students’ proficiency.
Assessments come in a variety of forms, but the most common are knowledge-based exams. Many states also have an end-of-course exam, and some offer a project-based assessment. Project-based assessments can provide a more effective and authentic way to demonstrate students’ civic skills and dispositions.
Recognition of Excellence in Civics
In 2024, thirteen state programs that recognize excellence in civics, which includes civic seals for students, school, and/ or district recognition programs.
Service Learning
In 2024, 40 states and DC allow districts to offer students credit for service-learning opportunities. Most states defer to school districts to offer credit.
Funding and Professional Development
In 2024, two new questions were added to the state policy scan gauging state funding for civic education programs and state provision of teacher professional development in civics. Seventeen states provide funding for K–12 civic education through the appropriations process. Thirty-five states plus DC offer social studies teachers professional development opportunities in civics.
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