Healthy States National Task Force
SUBCOMMITTEE
Civic Health 1. States can utilize innovative frameworks in the K-12 civics curriculum that focus on participatory skills, experiential learning, media literacy and engagement in digital platforms.
Rising polarization, the prevalence of misinformation/disinformation/ malinformation, and increasing mistrust in government institutions provided a clear direction for the work of the Civic Health Subcommittee. Central to the bipartisan discussions of the Civic Health Subcommittee members were ways to improve civic discourse and trust and improve transparency through elections and civic education.
2. States can report on success in strengthening civic understanding beyond what can be captured through academic testing results, including through alternative metrics such as portfolios and service-learning, among others.
The Civic Health Subcommittee adopted nine policy recommendations across two main focuses — civic education and elections.
3. States can consider increasing civics instruction requirements in K-12 schools. Increased civic instruction requirements should be supported by appropriate funding.
Civic Education Civic education is crucial to the long-term civic health of states. Such education serves as the basis for an understanding of shared heritage and political culture, inducing a sense of the importance of electoral participation and community engagement. Particularly in the last 20 years, involvement with community organizations and political parties has declined while the exchange of ideas and promotion of political activism across a variety of social media platforms has flourished. Meanwhile, Americans’ level of civic knowledge and engagement has remained stagnant.
4. States can invest in the public’s on-going civic education and consider policies that make voting accessible to all eligible citizens, including but not limited to: Removing barriers to voting for justice-involved individuals. Providing opportunities for voter education and more accurate information on voting. Implementing more modern and convenient forms of voter registration.
As states seek to reinvigorate civic knowledge, policymakers may consider implementing incremental changes to how civics education is conducted in schools and promote with a rich environment for civic learning, engagement and growth.
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THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS