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Teaching ‘action civics’ engages kids — and ignites controversy

The Hechinger Report

They point to dismal scores on national history and civics exams — less than 25 percent scored as proficient — as proof that schools need to spend more time teaching students core facts about our system of government, and warn that civics projects are displacing that instruction. Sign up for Hechinger’s newsletter.

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STUDENT VOICE: My generation knows less about civics than my parents’ generation did, yet we need it more than ever

The Hechinger Report

That’s why I’m convinced that we as a nation have to prioritize civics education in schools to encourage civic engagement, empathy and critical thinking to sustain our constitutional democracy. Unlike the majority of my peers, I am receiving a robust civics education, but it is largely outside of school.

Civics 97
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Call for Chapters: Teaching Civic Engagement in Challenging Times: Global Perspectives on Democratic Education for All

Political Science Now

The co-editors of a forthcoming edited collection in the APSA-De Gruyter Teaching Civic Engagement Series invite authors to submit chapter proposals for a new volume, Teaching Civic Engagement in Challenging Times: Global Perspectives on Democratic Education for All.

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Call for Applications: 2025 APSA Institute for Civically Engaged Research (ICER) | Deadline: April 20, 2025

Political Science Now

Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA – Getty Images APSAs Institute for Civically Engaged Research (ICER) is a four-day, residential institute that provides political scientists with training to conduct ethical and rigorous civically engaged research. What is Civically Engaged Research?

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Strengthening Civic Education: The Role of High-Quality Curriculum and Teaching Strategies

TCI

Creating Civic-Minded Classrooms A comprehensive education in social studies fosters a deep understanding of democracy, rights, and civic responsibilities. Teachers can use powerful teaching strategies to help students acquire the skills needed to actively participate in civic life.

Civics 98
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Member Spotlight: Samantha Chapa, University of Houston

Political Science Now

Her research interests include migration politics and policy, local politics, and race, ethnicity, and politics. Samantha’s dissertation focuses on the impacts of urban immigrant inclusion policies on the participation and civic engagement of immigrant and minoritized communities. Meet Samantha Chapa, Ph.D.,

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Teaching Voting in the Social Studies Classroom

Passion for Social Studies

When teaching voting in the social studies classroom, students need to be civically engaged to understand how voting is essential to our democracy. Additionally, they will research why low voter turnout is a problem, even though it is essential to maintaining our democracy. Students will even learn how to register to vote!