Shannon Watkins, research and policy fellow at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, contributed a piece to Ford Forum examining the uneven state of civics education across the country. Drawing on the Center’s report 50-State Comparison: Civics Education, Watkins explains that while most states require civics for high-school graduation, only 14 require a civics course at the college level, and many teacher-preparation programs fail to give future educators a full grounding in American history and government.
As a result, civics is often treated as an optional topic rather than a core component of higher education. Watkins argues that states and universities should close these gaps by requiring a rigorous civics course focused on foundational documents, strengthening teacher preparation, and reinforcing civic learning through campus programming and assessments—steps she says are essential to forming informed citizens and sustaining self-government.
To read the full piece, click HERE.