Civics Education in K-12 Schools. Results of a National Survey

Overview & Synopsis

As the nation has become increasingly politically divided in the wake of the 2016 Presidential elections, educators have turned their attention to civics education that might have the ability to encourage students to engage productively in public life. In addition, the February 2018 shootings at Parkland High School sparked a nationwide movement by young people concerned about violence. In the wake of both these developments, in the winter and spring of 2018, the Education Week Research Center surveyed principals and other school leaders about the structure and perceptions of civics education in their schools. The results of that survey are detailed in this report. They suggest that civics education is alive and well in American schools but that challenges remain. It remains to be seen whether civics education can help heal the partisan divisions in our nation.