National Civics Bee Organizers Advocate for Enhanced Civics Education to Improve Workforce Readiness
Organizers of the National Civics Bee are advocating for a renewed focus on civics education in U.S. schools, arguing that it is crucial for developing a skilled workforce. Despite the nation's 250th anniversary, only 22% of eighth-graders are proficient in civics, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Most states require only one civics course, often just a semester, and opportunities for practical civic engagement in high schools are limited, with only a third offering debate teams and a quarter offering mock trials. A 2022 report by the RAND Corp. highlighted a 'missing infrastructure' in K-5 social studies, pointing to gaps in policies, resources, and testing that hinder civics instruction. The National Civics Bee, a nonpartisan competition for middle school students, aims to address these gaps by engaging over 20,000 students across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and American Samoa. Participants identify community issues, research solutions, and discuss their ideas with judge...