We organized the National Civics Bee — it's where to start if you want better workers
Students are heading back to school in the 250th year since our nation’s founding. Unfortunately, many of them may not be aware of what the nation’s founding entailed, as only 22% of eighth-graders in this country are proficient in civics according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress.
TL;DR
- Only 22% of eighth-graders are proficient in civics, and teenagers identify working well with others, fact-checking, and critical thinking as crucial skills for the future.
- Improving civics knowledge can significantly contribute to building the skills that students and employers seek.
- The National Civics Bee involves over 20,000 students across all 50 states, teaching them to identify community issues, research them, develop solutions, and discuss their ideas.
- Civic learning helps students develop essential workforce skills such as research, communication, collaboration, persistence, and problem-solving.
- Civics education has been historically undervalued, with current state requirements and extracurricular opportunities falling short compared to past standards.
- Federal investment in civic education is significantly lower than in STEM, despite its importance for both democracy and a prepared workforce.