Civics

Image of voting and party lines.
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Social Studies What Do Gen Z Voters Care About Most? A Survey Offers Insights
The findings have implications for schools: Gen Z wants more civic opportunities in school and better information to shape their decisions.
Evie Blad, February 16, 2023
3 min read
Cyndi Tercero, family and community engagement manager for the Phoenix Union High School Districts, pictured at a distribution event for students and families in need at Carl Hayden High School in west Phoenix, Ariz., on Jan. 13, 2023.
Cyndi Tercero-Sandoval, the family and community engagement manager for the Phoenix Union High School District, helps out at a food distribution event for students and families in need at Carl Hayden High School in west Phoenix, Ariz.
Ash Ponders for Education Week
Budget & Finance Leader To Learn From Giving Students a Say in School Spending? A District Leader's Bold Idea Pays Off
Cyndi Tercero-Sandoval's initiative empowers students by allowing them to vote on how portions of their school's budgets will be spent.
Mark Lieberman, February 6, 2023
9 min read
Collaged illustration of various United States history events, icons, and people.
Vanessa Solis/EdWeek + Getty Images
Social Studies Opinion Teachers Are First Responders in an Ugly Partisan Divide
A middle school teacher argues that an investment from the federal government in civic education can help restore a common sense of purpose.
Jacob Goodwin, January 25, 2023
4 min read
Assessment Spotlight Spotlight on Assessment
This Spotlight will help you examine updated testing guidance from the U.S. Dept. of Ed, analyze college-placement test scores, and more.

January 17, 2023
photo collage of American Flag, Capitol building and the United States Constitution
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Social Studies Bipartisan Civics and History Guidelines Get a Dose of Federal Funding
The money will go toward curating curriculum and providing professional development for teachers.
Sarah Schwartz, January 11, 2023
4 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Social Studies Opinion What Did the House Speaker Fight Mean? An Education in Civics Can Explain
Teaching students why the House speaker fight mattered—and how to judge the stakes and claims—is the harder part of civics education.
Rick Hess, January 11, 2023
3 min read
Voters fill out their ballots in booths on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, at Petersen Residence Hall on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa.
Voters fill out their ballots in booths on Election Day in November in a student residence hall at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP
Social Studies Gen Z Has a Passion for Political Activism. Schools Can Nurture It
Gen Z continues to have a higher voter turnout than other young generations and schools can foster that civic interest.
Libby Stanford, January 6, 2023
7 min read
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., left, and Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., right, speaks with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., left, and Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., right, speak with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber in Washington. The House met for a second day on Jan. 4 to try to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress.
Alex Brandon/AP
Social Studies Speaker of the House Vote Has Teachers Discussing Another Extraordinary Political Event
Navigating students' questions in real time can help reinforce social studies skills, experts say.
Sarah Schwartz, January 5, 2023
5 min read
Denver East High School students Mariah Rosensweig and Gabriel Nagel pose for portraits at City Park on Dec. 19. They have successfully advocated for Denver Public Schools to adopt a set of sustainability goals aimed at reducing the district's greenhouse emissions.
Denver East High School students Mariah Rosensweig and Gabriel Nagel pose for portraits at City Park on Dec. 19. They have successfully advocated for Denver Public Schools to adopt a set of sustainability goals aimed at reducing the district's greenhouse emissions.
AAron Ontiveroz for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement A Pandemic Pause, Then an Advocacy Renaissance for Teen Climate Change Activists
The nature of student activism has changed since the pandemic. But teens are still pushing for climate change solutions.
Arianna Prothero, December 30, 2022
11 min read
Photo of students pointing at map.
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Social Studies Writing Social Studies Standards: A (Dramatic) Year in Review
This year proved to be politically fraught for revising state social studies standards. Take a look back at some major developments.
Ileana Najarro, December 23, 2022
4 min read
Image of columns.
E+
Law & Courts The 8 Most Consequential Developments in Education Law in 2022
The list includes major decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, a transition on the high court, and several lower court decisions.
Mark Walsh, December 22, 2022
6 min read
Image of a paddle.
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School Climate & Safety Q&A How a Student's Push to End Paddling in Schools Became a Yearslong Civics Lesson
A student advocate pushed to end corporal punishment in his state—and gained a passion for civic involvement in the process.
Evie Blad, November 22, 2022
7 min read
conceptual illustration of people gathering to form the map of the continental United States of America
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Social Studies Opinion I'm a State Election Chief. We Need to Do Something About Civics Education
With political polarization growing, schools are our best hope for imparting democratic values, writes Kentucky's secretary of state.
Michael G. Adams, November 22, 2022
4 min read
Illustration of diverse hands holding up checkmarks
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Social Studies Opinion I Am a High School Junior. I’m Not Prepared to Vote
I will be voting for the rest of my life, so why aren't I taught how to do so in school?
Sidhi Dhanda, November 21, 2022
3 min read