Last week, President Trump took the oath of office and was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. This peaceful transfer of power, particularly between presidents representing our two primary political parties, is a hallmark of our constitutional democracy. We celebrate this transition and the advent of the 119th Congress earlier this month, with all of our elected leaders “bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support [the U.S.] Constitution.”
Amidst the bevy of executive orders, proclamations, and confirmation hearings since Inauguration Day, civic education remains the best way to sustain and strengthen our democracy. This must be a civic education for the 21st century—one that is relevant, meaningful, and engaging for each new generation, and includes an explicit focus on the nation’s foundational documents—including the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights—and the democratic institutions and processes they established. Civic education fosters a deep connection to our country and cultivates in youth a strong sense of community, empowering them to work collaboratively with others to solve problems together.
However, on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in civics, only 22% of 8th graders tested proficient or above in understanding how this country’s constitutional democracy is supposed to work and how to apply that knowledge.
- These results are lamentably predictable as civics consists of only a one-semester course in high school for most K–12 students.
- Just 5 states require a stand-alone civics course in middle school, and elementary schools spend less than 30 minutes per day on social studies.
- Students from rural areas, students of color, and students from low-income families often encounter fewer civic learning opportunities in their schools.
Moreover, the federal government contributes to the marginalization of civics, investing less than 50 cents per K–12 student. As both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue turn to the tough task of governing, we encourage President Trump and members of Congress to invest in K–12 civic education for current and future generations. This includes new funding for states, local education agencies, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations to launch robust local civic education initiatives, building on and expanding recent progress in states. This investment will provide students with the civic knowledge and skills necessary to navigate emerging technology, social media, and disinformation threats that undermine the ability to participate successfully as informed citizens of our constitutional democracy.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice and iCivics founder Sandra Day O’Connor was right that “the practice of democracy is not passed down through the gene pool.” As plans are underway for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next July, we call on President Trump and Congress to make a generational investment in our students’ civic development, ensuring they learn and value our founding principles and the institutions undergirding them.
