Dive Brief:

• Amid decreasing civics prominence in schools, a recent survey conducted by Inspire regarding the impact of digital materials from iCivics gathered veteran teachers' insight on the current state of civics ed and how digital tools could assist their progress.
• Top impacts reported by teachers surveyed included "overall classroom engagement," "increased interest in politics or current events," and "increased understanding of how our system of government works" — with 49% of teachers reporting the populations they teach trend conservative, while 32% said their students leaned liberal.
• Teachers from all 50 states were involved in the survey, with 45% teaching in suburban areas and 27% each in rural and urban areas, while 49% reported their schools receive Title I funding.

Dive Insight:

As civics education in schools has declined, there have been calls for reinvestment in the subject, arguing that it is essential to meet the United States’ unique political moment. During an introduction to a panel this week, Columbia University Teachers’ College President Susan Fuhrman​ called for a renewed interest in civics, saying she encountered many students who were engaged in social justice issues but had not voted. In May, former U.S. Rep. George R. Nethercutt, Jr. wrote that civics education could act as an “important equalizer” for students affected by American politics, and could also be a boon as students embark on professional careers.

Considering the polarized nature of the country, it could be difficult to find funding and wider support to reinstate civics education on a large scale, but school leaders should encourage teachers to work foundational civics concepts into existing classes. Schools could also consider partnering with third parties — whether it is local non-profits, political organizations or other entities — to speak at schools about their own experiences. Additionally, inviting politicians running for city offices to speak with students about public service can be promoted as a two-fold benefit, providing potentially valuable media attention to candidates while giving students real-world exposure.