State governors have an opportunity to assess and improve civic education in schools. They must register by the end of January to receive the results of the national assessment in civic education, known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
The Importance of Civic Education
American students, especially in elementary grades, receive limited information about how government works, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and how to apply civic knowledge beyond the classroom. This is concerning, as only one-fifth of eighth-grade students in U.S. schools achieved a 'proficient' level in the latest NAEP assessment, indicating that the majority of students cannot identify the separation of powers and checks and balances outlined in the Constitution.
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Opportunity for Change
Starting in 2028, if states act by the January deadline, they can receive specific results for their state regarding eighth-grade civic education. Currently, only national averages are available. Tennessee's academic progress over the past two decades shows that all states should take advantage of this opportunity. In 2007, Tennessee's very low scores in the National Assessment of Educational Progress in reading and math, which contradicted the state's internal assessment results, sounded an alarm. Tennessee quickly moved to raise educational expectations and improve the quality of end-of-course assessments.
This strategy proved effective, and between 2011 and 2015, Tennessee was recognized as the fastest state in improvement in NAEP. This progress continues, and the state recently ranked among the top 25 percent of states in reading and math success for the first time.
The NAEP assessment is recognized as a valuable tool and the only common measure that assesses student learning at the national level. This assessment allows us to understand how today’s students are performing and how they compare to students from two years or two decades ago.
However, the question remains: what other fundamental things are students learning in school? Now states have an opportunity to answer this question in the realm of civic education, and we hope they seize this opportunity.
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