The Civic Mission of Schools

New Jersey is one of a handful of states that still does not require civic education in schools. Schools have an unmatched opportunity to invite students to engage.  Public schools were created with a civic mission in mind. Encouraging the development of civic skills and mindset among young people has always been an important goal of education. Schools are the only institution with the capacity to reach virtually every young person in the country. However, over the last several years, civic learning has lost its prominence in the formal American education system - we are facing a crisis in civic education.  

With this, students have lost the opportunity to develop their knowledge about our democracy and other forms of government, learn the honest telling of our history as a nation, forge the skills and disposition to develop their identity as citizens and to foster behaviors that reflect the democratic ideals we aspire to as a nation: equality and justice.

The Educating for American Democracy (EAD) initiative sets out goals for a 21st-century history and civic education, in support of civc strength. The Roadmap offers guidance for national, state, tribal and local leaders to assess the adequacy of current practices, standards and resources, and to guide innovation.

Policy makers in several states and at the federal level are taking action to mandate and fund civic education in k-12 classrooms. These are important first steps that also require focus and commitment at the district and local level.

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