Students are heading back to school in the 250th year since the nation’s founding, but the civics picture is weak. Only 22% of eighth-graders are proficient in civics, according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress.
At the same time, employers say the workforce is coming up short. The piece cites a Common Sense Media survey in which teenagers said the most important skills for an AI-shaped economy are working well with others, fact-checking and critical thinking, and making sense of complicated information. It also says only 18% of business leaders believe entry-level hires are ready for today’s workplace.
Hilary Crow and Ashley Berner, who organized the National Civics Bee, say those are not separate problems. Their argument is that high-quality civic learning can help students build the same habits that make for stronger workers: research, communication, collaboration, persistence and the ability to turn problems into solutions.
The National Civics Bee is described as a nonpartisan civics competition for middle school students. This year, more than 20,000 students are participating through over 240 local chambers of commerce and community partners across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and American Samoa.
According to the organizers, post-competition surveys show 98% of participants identified at least one meaningful benefit. Nearly three-quarters improved their writing. Many said they gained confidence discussing public issues, a stronger understanding of local government and more frequent conversations about civic issues at home. Three-quarters said they felt prepared to defend a position on a controversial issue respectfully and thoughtfully.
The piece points to Emily Brubaker as one example. Born with a rare medical condition that created significant challenges for her family, she researched a public policy issue that had affected her, built support for her ideas and traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers about potential solutions. The organizers say that process mirrors workplace skills employers value.
It also says civics has been crowded out over time. Today, most states require just one civics course, and often only a semester. Just one-third of high schools offer debate teams, one-quarter offer mock trials, and a mere 20% offer mock elections.
The market has already voted on the broader point: when schools neglect practical knowledge, businesses end up paying for it later. Capital rewards clear rules, and the taxpayer should not have to bankroll a system that leaves students without the basic skills to function in a free enterprise economy.
