All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement - The Report of the Commission on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge
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All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement The Report of the Commission on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge 2013
ALL TOGETHER NOW: COLLABORATION AND
This report should be cited as: All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement: The Report of the Commission on Youth Voting
and Civic Knowledge (Medford, MA: Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 2013), www.civicyouth.org/about-circle/
commission-on-youth-voting-civic-knowledge/
INNOVATION FOR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
The Report of the Commission on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge
A Call to Action.............................................................................................................................. 5 Planning a Discussion.................................................................................................................. 37
Main Recommendations............................................................................................................. 7 Appendix A: Selected Previous Research on Youth Political Engagement............ 39
Selected recommendations for national, state, and local policymakers........... 8 Appendix B: Data Collected for the Commission............................................................. 40
Selected recommendations for school districts and educators........................... 8 1. The Youth Engagement Fund Surveys........................................................................ 41
Recommendations for families and communities...................................................... 9 2. The National Youth Survey.............................................................................................. 41
Recommendations for collaboration............................................................................... 9 3. Analysis of official turnout statistics............................................................................ 43
Research for this Report............................................................................................................ 9 4. A National Civics Teacher Survey................................................................................. 44
About the Commission............................................................................................................... 10 5. Stakeholder interviews...................................................................................................... 45
New Data on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge............................................................ 11 Appendix C: Examples of Good Practice............................................................................ 45
Today’s Special Challenges and Opportunities for Youth Civic Engagement....... 13 1. Coalitions................................................................................................................................. 45
1. Deep polarization and ideological conflict............................................................... 13 2. Programs................................................................................................................................ 48
2. Growing inequality of civic opportunites................................................................. 15 Diverse and accessible opportunities for civically disadvantaged and
non-college youth................................................................................................................ 48
Table 1: Voter Turnout Among 18-29 Year Old Citizens ..................................... 15
Engagement in controversy and disagreement that promotes youth
3. An increasingly diverse youth population................................................................ 17
voice/expression, information seeking and deliberation...................................... 48
4. A powerful role for social media.................................................................................. 18
Lower barriers to youth political participation and increase
Fundamental Goals...................................................................................................................... 23
transparency of the political system............................................................................. 49
1. Free expression and civil deliberation........................................................................ 23
High-quality civic learning experiences and assessments that develop
2. Equality and quality of political engagement......................................................... 24
higher order knowledge and skills in the context of real-life issues................ 50
Recommendations........................................................................................................................ 27 Systems or networks of opportunities and support............................................... 52
1. Stitch together a quilt of helpful policies................................................................... 27
Notes.................................................................................................................................................. 54
Table 2: Summary of State Policy Effects................................................................... 28
2. Involve families..................................................................................................................... 30
3. Support teachers................................................................................................................. 31
4. Encourage collaboration.................................................................................................. 33
5. Innovate and evaluate....................................................................................................... 35
ALL TOGETHER NOW: COLLABORATION AND
This report should be cited as: All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement: The Report of the Commission on Youth Voting
and Civic Knowledge (Medford, MA: Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 2013), www.civicyouth.org/about-circle/
commission-on-youth-voting-civic-knowledge/
INNOVATION FOR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
The Report of the Commission on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge
A Call to Action.............................................................................................................................. 5 Planning a Discussion.................................................................................................................. 37
Main Recommendations............................................................................................................. 7 Appendix A: Selected Previous Research on Youth Political Engagement............ 39
Selected recommendations for national, state, and local policymakers........... 8 Appendix B: Data Collected for the Commission............................................................. 40
Selected recommendations for school districts and educators........................... 8 1. The Youth Engagement Fund Surveys........................................................................ 41
Recommendations for families and communities...................................................... 9 2. The National Youth Survey.............................................................................................. 41
Recommendations for collaboration............................................................................... 9 3. Analysis of official turnout statistics............................................................................ 43
Research for this Report............................................................................................................ 9 4. A National Civics Teacher Survey................................................................................. 44
About the Commission............................................................................................................... 10 5. Stakeholder interviews...................................................................................................... 45
New Data on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge............................................................ 11 Appendix C: Examples of Good Practice............................................................................ 45
Today’s Special Challenges and Opportunities for Youth Civic Engagement....... 13 1. Coalitions................................................................................................................................. 45
1. Deep polarization and ideological conflict............................................................... 13 2. Programs................................................................................................................................ 48
2. Growing inequality of civic opportunites................................................................. 15 Diverse and accessible opportunities for civically disadvantaged and
non-college youth................................................................................................................ 48
Table 1: Voter Turnout Among 18-29 Year Old Citizens ..................................... 15
Engagement in controversy and disagreement that promotes youth
3. An increasingly diverse youth population................................................................ 17
voice/expression, information seeking and deliberation...................................... 48
4. A powerful role for social media.................................................................................. 18
Lower barriers to youth political participation and increase
Fundamental Goals...................................................................................................................... 23
transparency of the political system............................................................................. 49
1. Free expression and civil deliberation........................................................................ 23
High-quality civic learning experiences and assessments that develop
2. Equality and quality of political engagement......................................................... 24
higher order knowledge and skills in the context of real-life issues................ 50
Recommendations........................................................................................................................ 27 Systems or networks of opportunities and support............................................... 52
1. Stitch together a quilt of helpful policies................................................................... 27
Notes.................................................................................................................................................. 54
Table 2: Summary of State Policy Effects................................................................... 28
2. Involve families..................................................................................................................... 30
3. Support teachers................................................................................................................. 31
4. Encourage collaboration.................................................................................................. 33
5. Innovate and evaluate....................................................................................................... 35
As a teacher we surveyed for this report said,
civic education “is essential if we are to continue
as a free democratic society. Not to educate the
next generation will ensure the destruction of our
American way of life as we know it.”
A Call
to Action
Each new generation must On the other hand, more schools matter, civic education
become active, informed, than half of young people must be a shared responsibility.
responsible, and effective did not vote. And on some The outcomes are acceptable
citizens. As a teacher we topics, most young people only when all the relevant
surveyed for this report said, were misinformed. A majority institutions invite, support,
civic education “is essential if (51.2%) of under 25-year- and educate young people to
we are to continue as a free olds believed that the federal engage in politics and civic
democratic society. Not to government spends more life. Improving the quality and
educate the next generation on foreign aid than on Social quantity of youth participation
will ensure the destruction of Security, when in fact Social will require new collaborations;
our American way of life as we Security costs about 20 for example, state election
know it.” times more. (Older adults officials and schools should
have also been found to be work together to make voting
Data show that many young misinformed on similar topics.)
Americans are reasonably Our research, like many other
well informed and active. studies, finds that young
For instance, 45% of citizens people from disadvantaged
Breaking the pattern of the past
between the ages of 18 and 29 backgrounds are far less likely
forty years will require new ideas
voted in the 2012 election. In to be informed and to vote.
and the active support of all
a national survey conducted
sectors of society.
for this Commission, 76% of These shortcomings cannot
people under the age of 25 be attributed to the schools
This report is intended to
who voted could correctly alone, since families, friends,
engage Americans in a new
answer at least one (out political campaigns, election
discussion, leading to experiments,
of two) factual questions officials, the mass media, social
partnerships, and reforms.
about where the presidential media, and community-based
candidates stood on a organizations are among the
campaign issue and state their other important influences
own opinion on that issue. on young people. In fact, our
research shows that whileAs a teacher we surveyed for this report said,
civic education “is essential if we are to continue
as a free democratic society. Not to educate the
next generation will ensure the destruction of our
American way of life as we know it.”
A Call
to Action
Each new generation must On the other hand, more schools matter, civic education
become active, informed, than half of young people must be a shared responsibility.
responsible, and effective did not vote. And on some The outcomes are acceptable
citizens. As a teacher we topics, most young people only when all the relevant
surveyed for this report said, were misinformed. A majority institutions invite, support,
civic education “is essential if (51.2%) of under 25-year- and educate young people to
we are to continue as a free olds believed that the federal engage in politics and civic
democratic society. Not to government spends more life. Improving the quality and
educate the next generation on foreign aid than on Social quantity of youth participation
will ensure the destruction of Security, when in fact Social will require new collaborations;
our American way of life as we Security costs about 20 for example, state election
know it.” times more. (Older adults officials and schools should
have also been found to be work together to make voting
Data show that many young misinformed on similar topics.)
Americans are reasonably Our research, like many other
well informed and active. studies, finds that young
For instance, 45% of citizens people from disadvantaged
Breaking the pattern of the past
between the ages of 18 and 29 backgrounds are far less likely
forty years will require new ideas
voted in the 2012 election. In to be informed and to vote.
and the active support of all
a national survey conducted
sectors of society.
for this Commission, 76% of These shortcomings cannot
people under the age of 25 be attributed to the schools
This report is intended to
who voted could correctly alone, since families, friends,
engage Americans in a new
answer at least one (out political campaigns, election
discussion, leading to experiments,
of two) factual questions officials, the mass media, social
partnerships, and reforms.
about where the presidential media, and community-based
candidates stood on a organizations are among the
campaign issue and state their other important influences
own opinion on that issue. on young people. In fact, our
research shows that whilepositive effect. Certainly, the Although levels of turnout
current policies in states and and knowledge have not
major school districts do not changed dramatically over
come close to achieving the time, the Commission believes
goals of civic education, which that the present moment is a
18-29 year olds who voted in 2012 are to provide all young people particularly challenging one
45 % with the knowledge, skills, for civic educators, whether
and dispositions they need they work in schools or other
to be active and responsible settings. Civic education
citizens. Either the policies are is a low priority for most
misconceived, the quality of policymakers and private
Voters under 25 who correctly answered one (of two)
implementation is inadequate, funders, and the very idea
76%
factual questions on a candidate’s stance
or both. of trying to engage young
people in politics has become
For example, we find that controversial. Breaking the
testing civics has no positive pattern of the past forty years
impact, but that could be will require new ideas and the YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP
Citizens under 25 who believed more money is
spent on foreign aid than Social Security
because the tests are not well active support of all sectors AS CITIZENS UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF:
51
designed, teachers are not of society—including youth
% well prepared and supported
to teach the material, or the
themselves. Just as we should
teach young people to work • Their own parents and family
curriculum is misaligned together to address public members;
with the tests. The quality problems—each contributing • Schools and colleges;
18-29s who knew their state’s voter registration of implementation requires his or her assets and ideas—
deadline in July 2012. more attention, and there is so people of all ages must • Peer groups, both in-person and
21 % an urgent need to experiment collaborate to improve youth online;
with wholly new strategies and civic engagement. This
policies, some of which are report is intended to engage • Community groups and religious
suggested in this report. Americans in a new discussion congregations;
about educating the next • Neighborhood and community
Despite enormous shifts in generation of voters, leading to norms;
the nature of campaigns experiments, partnerships, and
and political issues, news reforms. • National news and entertainment
and electronic media, the media;
demographics of the youth
underlying social and political population, and education
Main • Social media; and
procedures understandable we accounted for other factors
and to educate students about problems in conjunction with that are related to voting. policy and voting law, changes Recommendations • The formal political system.
voting rules. service projects in high school. States with many restrictive in youth turnout and civic
measures in place on Election knowledge have been limited The following Civic education is best understood
Some of the existing strategies The effects of policies are Day also saw lower turnout by since 1972. The average youth recommendations emerged as a shared responsibility, requiring
for civic education are strongly more difficult to estimate than non-college youth. turnout (for ages 18-24) in from the Commissioners’ collaboration.
supported by research and the effects of educational presidential years from 1972- deliberations, which were
deserve to be maintained strategies and practices. 2012 was 43.7%. The rate in informed by an in-depth
Research conducted for this 2012 was just a bit below the analysis of prior research and
and expanded. For instance, There are only 50 states, and
report does not by any means mean at 41.2%. Since 1972, extensive original research
teaching young people they differ in many ways.
rule out the benefits of some the 50% threshold has never conducted during and after
explicitly about politics and We find that some policies
existing policies, such as been breached. Meanwhile, the 2012 election (see the
elections is related to higher probably have detrimental
mandatory courses and tests the best national data on civic next section for a summary of
levels of political knowledge; consequences. For example,
or convenient means of voter knowledge—from the National the new research). No single
thus schools should be young people without
registration. However, the data Assessment of Educational reform listed here is a panacea,
encouraged and supported college experience who lived
collected for the Commission Progress (NAEP) Civics but combining several of them
to cover politics in classes in the states with photo ID
and previous studies suggest Assessment—show very small would help build a supportive
that reach all students. Young requirements were less likely
that none of the existing state changes since the 1970s.1
adults are also more civically to vote in 2012 than those who
policies has an impressive
engaged if they discussed lived in other states, even when
6 All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement
7positive effect. Certainly, the Although levels of turnout
current policies in states and and knowledge have not
major school districts do not changed dramatically over
come close to achieving the time, the Commission believes
goals of civic education, which that the present moment is a
18-29 year olds who voted in 2012 are to provide all young people particularly challenging one
45 % with the knowledge, skills, for civic educators, whether
and dispositions they need they work in schools or other
to be active and responsible settings. Civic education
citizens. Either the policies are is a low priority for most
misconceived, the quality of policymakers and private
Voters under 25 who correctly answered one (of two)
implementation is inadequate, funders, and the very idea
76%
factual questions on a candidate’s stance
or both. of trying to engage young
people in politics has become
For example, we find that controversial. Breaking the
testing civics has no positive pattern of the past forty years
impact, but that could be will require new ideas and the YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP
Citizens under 25 who believed more money is
spent on foreign aid than Social Security
because the tests are not well active support of all sectors AS CITIZENS UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF:
51
designed, teachers are not of society—including youth
% well prepared and supported
to teach the material, or the
themselves. Just as we should
teach young people to work • Their own parents and family
curriculum is misaligned together to address public members;
with the tests. The quality problems—each contributing • Schools and colleges;
18-29s who knew their state’s voter registration of implementation requires his or her assets and ideas—
deadline in July 2012. more attention, and there is so people of all ages must • Peer groups, both in-person and
21 % an urgent need to experiment collaborate to improve youth online;
with wholly new strategies and civic engagement. This
policies, some of which are report is intended to engage • Community groups and religious
suggested in this report. Americans in a new discussion congregations;
about educating the next • Neighborhood and community
Despite enormous shifts in generation of voters, leading to norms;
the nature of campaigns experiments, partnerships, and
and political issues, news reforms. • National news and entertainment
and electronic media, the media;
demographics of the youth
underlying social and political population, and education
Main • Social media; and
procedures understandable we accounted for other factors
and to educate students about problems in conjunction with that are related to voting. policy and voting law, changes Recommendations • The formal political system.
voting rules. service projects in high school. States with many restrictive in youth turnout and civic
measures in place on Election knowledge have been limited The following Civic education is best understood
Some of the existing strategies The effects of policies are Day also saw lower turnout by since 1972. The average youth recommendations emerged as a shared responsibility, requiring
for civic education are strongly more difficult to estimate than non-college youth. turnout (for ages 18-24) in from the Commissioners’ collaboration.
supported by research and the effects of educational presidential years from 1972- deliberations, which were
deserve to be maintained strategies and practices. 2012 was 43.7%. The rate in informed by an in-depth
Research conducted for this 2012 was just a bit below the analysis of prior research and
and expanded. For instance, There are only 50 states, and
report does not by any means mean at 41.2%. Since 1972, extensive original research
teaching young people they differ in many ways.
rule out the benefits of some the 50% threshold has never conducted during and after
explicitly about politics and We find that some policies
existing policies, such as been breached. Meanwhile, the 2012 election (see the
elections is related to higher probably have detrimental
mandatory courses and tests the best national data on civic next section for a summary of
levels of political knowledge; consequences. For example,
or convenient means of voter knowledge—from the National the new research). No single
thus schools should be young people without
registration. However, the data Assessment of Educational reform listed here is a panacea,
encouraged and supported college experience who lived
collected for the Commission Progress (NAEP) Civics but combining several of them
to cover politics in classes in the states with photo ID
and previous studies suggest Assessment—show very small would help build a supportive
that reach all students. Young requirements were less likely
that none of the existing state changes since the 1970s.1
adults are also more civically to vote in 2012 than those who
policies has an impressive
engaged if they discussed lived in other states, even when
6 All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement
7environment for youth civic of current, controversial political • Assign students to read and • Discuss current events (including • Align states’ high school civics CIRCLE surveyed 4,483
learning and engagement. issues in the curriculum. discuss news in class and with upcoming elections) and political curricula with voting reforms representative individuals
The main body of the report their parents or other adults. issues. that encourage pre-registration (ages 18-24) by cell phone and
explains whether each of these • Lower the voting age to 17 in in schools. land-line phones. At least 75
recommendations is based municipal or state elections • Teach in detail the current • Obtain and discuss high-quality participants came from each of
on extensive experience and so that students can be voting laws that apply in the news, to the extent possible. • Support the study of civics and the 50 states and Washington,
evaluation data or is a new encouraged to vote while they state, as many young people do government among college DC (75-131 per state) to allow
idea that the Commissioners are taking a required civics class. not know the specifics of the • Encourage children to form students who are headed for us to estimate the effects of
advocate on a pilot basis. laws that govern voting in their and express their own views on teaching careers. state policies using a statistical
• Increase the scale and quality of own jurisdictions. current controversial issues. model. Participants of Black
Selected recommendations national and community service • Hold contests and award and Hispanic backgrounds were
for national, state, and local programs that involve elements • Emphasize youth conducting • Support the discussion of certificates of civic achievement. slightly oversampled.
policymakers of deliberation, collaboration, community research and controversial issues in schools. Students enrolled in k-12
and work on social issues, producing local journalism, with schools would be eligible, • The Teacher Survey: In May and
• Make voting more accessible and make sure they are open the twin goals of enhancing • If eligible, vote, and talk to but community groups would June 2013, CIRCLE surveyed a
through reforms such as Same to youth who do not attend students’ communications skills children about why they vote. participate in judging and national sample of high school
Day Registration; automatic college. and making a contribution awarding the prizes. Parents government and social studies
registration of eligible high to the community in light of • Involve their children in out-of- and other adults could also be teachers. We collected 720
school students or pre- Selected recommendations the severe gap in professional school groups and organizations eligible for awards. complete teacher responses.
registration of 17-year-old for school districts and reporting. that address political and social
educators
students; and online registration
with easy mobile updating. • Provide standards, curricular
concerns.
Research for this • Stakeholder interviews:
CIRCLE interviewed 15
• Implement high school course materials, and professional Recommendations for Report stakeholders (nonprofit leaders
• Implement state standards for requirements with valid development that ensure collaboration and advocates, including
civics that focus on developing assessments that measure students discuss the root causes To investigate the full range of young adults) and coded and
advanced civic skills, such as higher-order skills and the of social problems when they • Develop and support statewide influences on informed youth summarized their ideas.
deliberation and collaboration, application of knowledge. participate in service-learning coalitions that advocate for voting, CIRCLE organized
rather than memorizing facts. Courses should teach the and ensure that student groups favorable policies and work to and staffed a scholarly, • Analysis of national data:
Standards should be more registration and voting process address social issues. ensure that policies are well nonpartisan commission. CIRCLE analyzed National Exit
challenging, more coherent, and explicitly and engage students implemented. (For instance, as Research for the Commission Poll and the U.S. Census Current
more concerned with politics in following the news and • Strengthen standards and well as advocating a civics test, was funded by the S.D. Population Survey, Voting and
than the typical state standards deliberating about issues. curricula for digital media the coalition will help design a Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, W.T. Registration Supplement (CPS
in place today. Because these literacy and coordinate digital good test, align it with materials Grant Foundation, the Robert Voting Supplement) data to
standards will be challenging, • Adopt explicit policies that media literacy and civic and curricula, and help provide R. McCormick Foundation, calculate youth turnout and to
they will require both deep protect teachers’ careers if education. professional development for the Spencer Foundation and examine relationships between
attention to civics within the they teach about controversial teachers.) the Youth Engagement Fund. turnout and laws at the state
social studies curriculum and issues, as long as they • Implement multi-player role- To inform the Commission’s level.
support from other disciplines, encourage discussion of diverse playing video games as tools for • Award badges for excellence deliberations, CIRCLE
such as English/language arts perspectives on those issues. civic education. in civics. These portable, online conducted the following • Policy scans: CIRCLE conducted
and the sciences. certificates would demonstrate ambitious and original research a full scan of all the states’
• Provide professional Recommendations for families advanced civic skills, knowledge, projects in 2012-2013: civic education policies and a
• Experiment with assessments development that goes well and communities and actual contributions. separate scan of their teacher
of civic skills that use portfolios beyond one-day events and Badges could be designed and • The Youth Engagement Fund certification requirements.
of students’ work instead that is available to all teachers, Families and caring adults awarded by various institutions polls: CIRCLE conducted a We categorized these laws to
of standardized tests. (This including those serving contribute to the younger (e.g., schools and religious nationally representative online incorporate them in statistical
reform is currently being disadvantaged students.2 generation’s civic development congregations), but the sectors survey of 1,695 youth (ages models of the effects of policies
implemented in Tennessee, and in many ways. Families cannot should share ideas and set 18-29) in June/July 2012 and on youth outcomes.
the experience there will provide • Use assessment systems that be required to teach civic voluntary standards. surveyed 1,109 of the same
valuable lessons.) reward students’ discussion and education, and even advice youth in October 2012 to track • A literature review: CIRCLE
investigation of current events should be offered cautiously • Encourage parents to change during the campaign completed a comprehensive
• Enact state and district and issues. out of respect for families’ participate in civic activities season. literature review, highlights of
policies that support teachers’ autonomy and diversity. But in within schools, e.g., by judging which are briefly summarized as
obligation to include discussions general, families should: students’ portfolios or by joining • The National Youth Survey: Appendix A.
discussions of current events. Immediately after the election,
8 All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement
9environment for youth civic of current, controversial political • Assign students to read and • Discuss current events (including • Align states’ high school civics CIRCLE surveyed 4,483
learning and engagement. issues in the curriculum. discuss news in class and with upcoming elections) and political curricula with voting reforms representative individuals
The main body of the report their parents or other adults. issues. that encourage pre-registration (ages 18-24) by cell phone and
explains whether each of these • Lower the voting age to 17 in in schools. land-line phones. At least 75
recommendations is based municipal or state elections • Teach in detail the current • Obtain and discuss high-quality participants came from each of
on extensive experience and so that students can be voting laws that apply in the news, to the extent possible. • Support the study of civics and the 50 states and Washington,
evaluation data or is a new encouraged to vote while they state, as many young people do government among college DC (75-131 per state) to allow
idea that the Commissioners are taking a required civics class. not know the specifics of the • Encourage children to form students who are headed for us to estimate the effects of
advocate on a pilot basis. laws that govern voting in their and express their own views on teaching careers. state policies using a statistical
• Increase the scale and quality of own jurisdictions. current controversial issues. model. Participants of Black
Selected recommendations national and community service • Hold contests and award and Hispanic backgrounds were
for national, state, and local programs that involve elements • Emphasize youth conducting • Support the discussion of certificates of civic achievement. slightly oversampled.
policymakers of deliberation, collaboration, community research and controversial issues in schools. Students enrolled in k-12
and work on social issues, producing local journalism, with schools would be eligible, • The Teacher Survey: In May and
• Make voting more accessible and make sure they are open the twin goals of enhancing • If eligible, vote, and talk to but community groups would June 2013, CIRCLE surveyed a
through reforms such as Same to youth who do not attend students’ communications skills children about why they vote. participate in judging and national sample of high school
Day Registration; automatic college. and making a contribution awarding the prizes. Parents government and social studies
registration of eligible high to the community in light of • Involve their children in out-of- and other adults could also be teachers. We collected 720
school students or pre- Selected recommendations the severe gap in professional school groups and organizations eligible for awards. complete teacher responses.
registration of 17-year-old for school districts and reporting. that address political and social
educators
students; and online registration
with easy mobile updating. • Provide standards, curricular
concerns.
Research for this • Stakeholder interviews:
CIRCLE interviewed 15
• Implement high school course materials, and professional Recommendations for Report stakeholders (nonprofit leaders
• Implement state standards for requirements with valid development that ensure collaboration and advocates, including
civics that focus on developing assessments that measure students discuss the root causes To investigate the full range of young adults) and coded and
advanced civic skills, such as higher-order skills and the of social problems when they • Develop and support statewide influences on informed youth summarized their ideas.
deliberation and collaboration, application of knowledge. participate in service-learning coalitions that advocate for voting, CIRCLE organized
rather than memorizing facts. Courses should teach the and ensure that student groups favorable policies and work to and staffed a scholarly, • Analysis of national data:
Standards should be more registration and voting process address social issues. ensure that policies are well nonpartisan commission. CIRCLE analyzed National Exit
challenging, more coherent, and explicitly and engage students implemented. (For instance, as Research for the Commission Poll and the U.S. Census Current
more concerned with politics in following the news and • Strengthen standards and well as advocating a civics test, was funded by the S.D. Population Survey, Voting and
than the typical state standards deliberating about issues. curricula for digital media the coalition will help design a Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, W.T. Registration Supplement (CPS
in place today. Because these literacy and coordinate digital good test, align it with materials Grant Foundation, the Robert Voting Supplement) data to
standards will be challenging, • Adopt explicit policies that media literacy and civic and curricula, and help provide R. McCormick Foundation, calculate youth turnout and to
they will require both deep protect teachers’ careers if education. professional development for the Spencer Foundation and examine relationships between
attention to civics within the they teach about controversial teachers.) the Youth Engagement Fund. turnout and laws at the state
social studies curriculum and issues, as long as they • Implement multi-player role- To inform the Commission’s level.
support from other disciplines, encourage discussion of diverse playing video games as tools for • Award badges for excellence deliberations, CIRCLE
such as English/language arts perspectives on those issues. civic education. in civics. These portable, online conducted the following • Policy scans: CIRCLE conducted
and the sciences. certificates would demonstrate ambitious and original research a full scan of all the states’
• Provide professional Recommendations for families advanced civic skills, knowledge, projects in 2012-2013: civic education policies and a
• Experiment with assessments development that goes well and communities and actual contributions. separate scan of their teacher
of civic skills that use portfolios beyond one-day events and Badges could be designed and • The Youth Engagement Fund certification requirements.
of students’ work instead that is available to all teachers, Families and caring adults awarded by various institutions polls: CIRCLE conducted a We categorized these laws to
of standardized tests. (This including those serving contribute to the younger (e.g., schools and religious nationally representative online incorporate them in statistical
reform is currently being disadvantaged students.2 generation’s civic development congregations), but the sectors survey of 1,695 youth (ages models of the effects of policies
implemented in Tennessee, and in many ways. Families cannot should share ideas and set 18-29) in June/July 2012 and on youth outcomes.
the experience there will provide • Use assessment systems that be required to teach civic voluntary standards. surveyed 1,109 of the same
valuable lessons.) reward students’ discussion and education, and even advice youth in October 2012 to track • A literature review: CIRCLE
investigation of current events should be offered cautiously • Encourage parents to change during the campaign completed a comprehensive
• Enact state and district and issues. out of respect for families’ participate in civic activities season. literature review, highlights of
policies that support teachers’ autonomy and diversity. But in within schools, e.g., by judging which are briefly summarized as
obligation to include discussions general, families should: students’ portfolios or by joining • The National Youth Survey: Appendix A.
discussions of current events. Immediately after the election,
8 All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement
9In all, we surveyed or Foundation and Professor Program Assistant; Felicia
interviewed 6,913 people of Education, University of Sullivan, Senior Researcher;
(some more than once, to Wisconsin-Madison and Nancy Thomas, Director of
detect changes over time) and CIRCLE’s Initiative for the Study
scanned the relevant laws of • Joseph Kahne, Professor of of Higher Education and Public
all 50 states plus the District Education at Mills College Life.
of Columbia for the purpose and Chair of the MacArthur
of producing this report. Foundation Research Network
Additional details are available
in Appendix B.
on Youth and Participatory
Politics
New Data on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge
About the • Alex Keyssar, Matthew W.
Stirling Jr., Professor of History
Commission and Social Policy at the Kennedy
School of Government at
The members of the Harvard University
Commission are among the Many of the statistics and specific findings presented in this report have previously been released publicly under
most distinguished scholarly • Michael McDevitt, Professor the aegis of the Commission. But this report is the first-ever presentation of several findings, such as the following:
experts on youth political of Journalism and Mass
engagement, representing Communication, University of «« For young people without college experience, the existence of a photo ID law in their state predicted lower
diverse disciplines and Colorado, Boulder turnout in 2012, even after we included many other potential explanations in our statistical models. (Future
institutions. They studied and elections may differ from 2012, when the photo ID laws were highly controversial and actively opposed.)
discussed the findings from the • Richard G. Niemi, Don Alonzo
new research and then jointly Watson Professor of Political «« Allowing people to register to vote on the same day that they vote had a positive effect on youth turnout in
wrote this report. Science, University of Rochester 2012, and that finding is consistent with previous research.
• David Campbell, Professor of • Eric Plutzer, Professor of «« About one in four high school civics or American government teachers believe that the parents of their
Political Science and Director of Political Science, Penn State students or other adults in their community would object if they brought discussion of politics into the
the Rooney Center for the Study University classroom.
of American Democracy, the
University of Notre Dame • Debra Satz, Marta Sutton Weeks «« Ninety percent of teachers believe that their principal would support their decision to teach about an
Professor of Ethics in Society election (and 46% would expect strong support from principals). But only 38% of teachers think they would
• Constance Flanagan, Professor, and Professor of Philosophy, get strong support from their district, and only 28% think parents would strongly support them. If teachers
Department of Interdisciplinary Stanford University perceive strong support, they are significantly more likely to provide an open climate for discussion in class
Studies, University of Wisconsin- and tend to prefer more deliberative forms of discussion. Teachers with more experience are more likely to
Madison • Ismail K. White, Assistant perceive support.
Professor of Political Science,
• Lisa García Bedolla, Professor, Ohio State University «« Attending racially diverse high schools predicted lower electoral engagement and lower levels of informed
Graduate School of Education, voting, probably because it is more difficult to discuss controversial issues in diverse contexts, and
University of California, Berkeley Staff: CIRCLE provided individuals feel less encouragement to participate politically when others around them disagree.3 On the
research and other forms of other hand, discussion of controversial current issues in school and parental support for controversial
• Trey Grayson, Director of the support for the Commission. discussions diminished the negative relationship between diversity and electoral engagement.
Institute of Politics at Harvard CIRCLE Director Peter Levine
University and former Secretary was the Principal Investigator «« Only eight states (California, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia)
of State of Kentucky on all the research efforts and include social studies in their assessments of schools’ performance, usually as a very small proportion of
coordinated the Commission. the schools’ scores.
• Eitan Hersh, Assistant Professor Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg,
of Political Science at Yale CIRCLE’s Deputy Director, had «« Only ten states (Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah,
University primary responsibility for the and Wisconsin) require teachers of government or civics to be certified in civics or government.
research. Other key staff were:
• Diana Hess, Senior Vice Surbhi Godsay, Researcher;
President, the Spencer Abby Kiesa, Youth Coordinator
& Researcher; Kathy O’Connor,
10 All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement
11In all, we surveyed or Foundation and Professor Program Assistant; Felicia
interviewed 6,913 people of Education, University of Sullivan, Senior Researcher;
(some more than once, to Wisconsin-Madison and Nancy Thomas, Director of
detect changes over time) and CIRCLE’s Initiative for the Study
scanned the relevant laws of • Joseph Kahne, Professor of of Higher Education and Public
all 50 states plus the District Education at Mills College Life.
of Columbia for the purpose and Chair of the MacArthur
of producing this report. Foundation Research Network
Additional details are available
in Appendix B.
on Youth and Participatory
Politics
New Data on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge
About the • Alex Keyssar, Matthew W.
Stirling Jr., Professor of History
Commission and Social Policy at the Kennedy
School of Government at
The members of the Harvard University
Commission are among the Many of the statistics and specific findings presented in this report have previously been released publicly under
most distinguished scholarly • Michael McDevitt, Professor the aegis of the Commission. But this report is the first-ever presentation of several findings, such as the following:
experts on youth political of Journalism and Mass
engagement, representing Communication, University of «« For young people without college experience, the existence of a photo ID law in their state predicted lower
diverse disciplines and Colorado, Boulder turnout in 2012, even after we included many other potential explanations in our statistical models. (Future
institutions. They studied and elections may differ from 2012, when the photo ID laws were highly controversial and actively opposed.)
discussed the findings from the • Richard G. Niemi, Don Alonzo
new research and then jointly Watson Professor of Political «« Allowing people to register to vote on the same day that they vote had a positive effect on youth turnout in
wrote this report. Science, University of Rochester 2012, and that finding is consistent with previous research.
• David Campbell, Professor of • Eric Plutzer, Professor of «« About one in four high school civics or American government teachers believe that the parents of their
Political Science and Director of Political Science, Penn State students or other adults in their community would object if they brought discussion of politics into the
the Rooney Center for the Study University classroom.
of American Democracy, the
University of Notre Dame • Debra Satz, Marta Sutton Weeks «« Ninety percent of teachers believe that their principal would support their decision to teach about an
Professor of Ethics in Society election (and 46% would expect strong support from principals). But only 38% of teachers think they would
• Constance Flanagan, Professor, and Professor of Philosophy, get strong support from their district, and only 28% think parents would strongly support them. If teachers
Department of Interdisciplinary Stanford University perceive strong support, they are significantly more likely to provide an open climate for discussion in class
Studies, University of Wisconsin- and tend to prefer more deliberative forms of discussion. Teachers with more experience are more likely to
Madison • Ismail K. White, Assistant perceive support.
Professor of Political Science,
• Lisa García Bedolla, Professor, Ohio State University «« Attending racially diverse high schools predicted lower electoral engagement and lower levels of informed
Graduate School of Education, voting, probably because it is more difficult to discuss controversial issues in diverse contexts, and
University of California, Berkeley Staff: CIRCLE provided individuals feel less encouragement to participate politically when others around them disagree.3 On the
research and other forms of other hand, discussion of controversial current issues in school and parental support for controversial
• Trey Grayson, Director of the support for the Commission. discussions diminished the negative relationship between diversity and electoral engagement.
Institute of Politics at Harvard CIRCLE Director Peter Levine
University and former Secretary was the Principal Investigator «« Only eight states (California, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia)
of State of Kentucky on all the research efforts and include social studies in their assessments of schools’ performance, usually as a very small proportion of
coordinated the Commission. the schools’ scores.
• Eitan Hersh, Assistant Professor Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg,
of Political Science at Yale CIRCLE’s Deputy Director, had «« Only ten states (Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah,
University primary responsibility for the and Wisconsin) require teachers of government or civics to be certified in civics or government.
research. Other key staff were:
• Diana Hess, Senior Vice Surbhi Godsay, Researcher;
President, the Spencer Abby Kiesa, Youth Coordinator
& Researcher; Kathy O’Connor,
10 All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement
11Challenges and
Opportunities
Every generation needs civic Today’s young people enter parties were more divided than
education. Young people do civic and political life at a the public was.5
not automatically acquire the time characterized by four
skills, knowledge, motivations, interrelated trends, each of Polarization contributes to
and values necessary to which poses special challenges failures of governance, such
contribute to the republic; and opportunities: as repeated fiscal crises in
they must be educated and Washington, DC. The constant
encouraged. This principle controversy and struggle
has long been recognized.
1. Deep for advantage also lead
The great champion of free polarization and many Americans to disdain
public education, Horace politics, to mistrust their
Mann, wrote in 1846,
ideological conflict
“since the achievement of
We are living in a period of
American independence,
bitter partisan and ideological
the universal and ever-
conflict, especially in official
repeated argument in
political settings like the THE CHALLENGE:
favor of public schools
U.S. Congress. Americans
has been that the
disagree about political issues, Civic education is especially difficult
general intelligence
but professional politicians when young people have good reasons
which they are
are more polarized than the to view politics as polarized and
capable of diffusing
public and more polarized dysfunctional.
is indispensable to
than political leaders used
Young people do not automatically acquire the continuance
to be. In February 2013, 76% THE OPPORTUNITY:
of republican
the skills, knowledge, motivations, and values government.”4
of registered voters said that
American politics had become Teaching a new generation to be civil,
But each
necessary to contribute to the republic; they must generation
more divisive lately, 74%
believed that this was a bad
responsible, and constructive citizens
may be part of the solution to our
faces unique
be educated and encouraged. circumstances.
trend, and 55% agreed that the polarized and dysfunctional politics.
12 All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth EngagementChallenges and
Opportunities
Every generation needs civic Today’s young people enter parties were more divided than
education. Young people do civic and political life at a the public was.5
not automatically acquire the time characterized by four
skills, knowledge, motivations, interrelated trends, each of Polarization contributes to
and values necessary to which poses special challenges failures of governance, such
contribute to the republic; and opportunities: as repeated fiscal crises in
they must be educated and Washington, DC. The constant
encouraged. This principle controversy and struggle
has long been recognized.
1. Deep for advantage also lead
The great champion of free polarization and many Americans to disdain
public education, Horace politics, to mistrust their
Mann, wrote in 1846,
ideological conflict
“since the achievement of
We are living in a period of
American independence,
bitter partisan and ideological
the universal and ever-
conflict, especially in official
repeated argument in
political settings like the THE CHALLENGE:
favor of public schools
U.S. Congress. Americans
has been that the
disagree about political issues, Civic education is especially difficult
general intelligence
but professional politicians when young people have good reasons
which they are
are more polarized than the to view politics as polarized and
capable of diffusing
public and more polarized dysfunctional.
is indispensable to
than political leaders used
Young people do not automatically acquire the continuance
to be. In February 2013, 76% THE OPPORTUNITY:
of republican
the skills, knowledge, motivations, and values government.”4
of registered voters said that
American politics had become Teaching a new generation to be civil,
But each
necessary to contribute to the republic; they must generation
more divisive lately, 74%
believed that this was a bad
responsible, and constructive citizens
may be part of the solution to our
faces unique
be educated and encouraged. circumstances.
trend, and 55% agreed that the polarized and dysfunctional politics.
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