Dive Brief:
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Civics education proponents believe students should be exposed to the subject throughout their K-12 years, viewing it as critical to maintaining democracy.
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While those who champion civics courses for students agree with the importance of learning core subjects like reading, math and science, they also see civics as a core subject deserving a standalone class. Mandating civics assessments for graduation, as several states have in recent years, can also help ensure students have a grounding in the subject before they finish high school.
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“I could argue that you don’t have to know how to balance a checkbook or know it will rain,” said Donna Phillips, vice president and chief program officer for the nonprofit Center for Civic Education. “But at 18, you can vote. Knowing how our systems of government work is what it means to be an active member of our democratic republic.”
Dive Insight:
State assessments for math and English language arts are standard K-12 requirements across the country. But civics education proponents argue learning and assessment of constitutional principles and systems of government is also crucial to becoming an educated, productive member of society.
The idea of adding more assessment requirements for students is not without controversy.
“People don’t like to use the word ‘testing,’ and assessments are a double-edged sword because once you assess, it becomes high-stakes,” Phillips said.
Some see an outsized focus on subjects like reading and math in assessment-based accountability systems as pushing out opportunities for covering a broader variety of subjects in schools. And heavy emphasis on prepping for high-stakes exams can also add stress to the learning experience.
But Phillips supports the argument that subjects with tests aligned to them get more attention. For example, when states mandate assessments, results are often used to determine school funding, which influences curriculum planning, staffing decisions and budgets.
In recent years, several states have mandated that high schoolers pass a civics assessment before they can graduate. Arizona recently strengthened its high school civics requirement, raising the score needed to pass and graduate while allowing students to take the test as early as 7th grade, KJZZ reports.
Other states that require high school students to pass a civics assessment to graduate, as of 2018, include Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Utah. Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin require civics assessments, but not for graduation. Most of the required assessments are based on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test, which immigrants must pass to become legal citizens.
Ultimately, Phillips said, assessments not only support civics as a subject but also improve how it's taught.
“Great assessments can lead to great teaching,” she said. “A way for students to demonstrate their civic readiness is demonstrating different competencies needed as part of our civil life.”
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