Investment works! In the current interconnected world, civic learning has never been more important. Yet, over several decades, schools have spent less time and funding on civic learning. This trend accelerated as a result of focus on, and funding for, policies promoting accountability for more uniformly tested subjects. Most assuredly, the subject most connected with the health and future of our constitutional democracy is as deserving of support as other K–12 subjects. Investment makes a difference.
We’ve seen the difference investment can make, as evidenced by annual federal level expenditures for STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education averaging about $50 per K–12 public school student. By contrast, funding for civic education is roughly 5 cents per student per year. As a result of dis-investment, the infrastructure—including professional development, materials, and other supports— for civic learning significantly deteriorated in our nation’s K–-12 schools.
Specifically, the CivxNow State Policy Menu calls for investment in the following areas:
- Universal Access to High-quality Civic Learning Opportunities
- Alignment of State Social Studies Standards to the Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy
- Strengthened Pre-service Teaching Requirements
- Educator Professional Development
- Assessment and Accountability
- Schoolwide and Community Commitments to Civic Learning
- Equity in Civics