The Hidden Factors Behind Civics Education Success: What Schools and Districts Reveal About Student Achievement
Read our full research article in the Florida Journal of Educational Research Why Civics Education Matters More Than You Think Imagine a classroom where students aren't just learning about government—they're practicing how to become engaged citizens. They're analyzing public issues, discussing solutions, and developing the skills needed to influence their communities and beyond. This is the promise of high-quality civics education in America. But here's the reality check: approximately 76% of 8th graders across the U.S. score below proficiency on national civics assessments. Let that sink in. Three out of four students lack the fundamental knowledge needed to understand how our democracy functions. As researchers looking at Florida's standardized civics testing, we wanted to understand what's really behind these numbers. What makes some schools more successful than others at teaching students about civic life? And why do we see such persistent gaps in achievemen...