TY - JOUR
T1 - Should We Be Testing Civics? Examining the Implications of the Civic Education Initiative
AU - Brezicha, Kristina F.
AU - Mitra, Dana L.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Given the importance of developing civically engaged and knowledgeable citizens, many have sought to improve the quality of students’ civic education experiences. This article examines one particular effort spearheaded by the Joe Foss Institute, the Civic Education Initiative (CEI). Since the CEI was announced, 18 states have passed legislation that includes a civics test component embedded in the CEI. This conceptual article examines the CEI against research-based practices for teaching civics. It then introduces the policy design framework as a tool for analyzing civic policies like CEI. This political science theory recognizes that policies themselves send important signals that have implications for students’ civic development. We utilize the policy design framework to analyze CEI and, in particular, how CEI is likely to shape students’ civic and political engagement. We conclude with a proposal for future research on civic education using the policy design framework.
AB - Given the importance of developing civically engaged and knowledgeable citizens, many have sought to improve the quality of students’ civic education experiences. This article examines one particular effort spearheaded by the Joe Foss Institute, the Civic Education Initiative (CEI). Since the CEI was announced, 18 states have passed legislation that includes a civics test component embedded in the CEI. This conceptual article examines the CEI against research-based practices for teaching civics. It then introduces the policy design framework as a tool for analyzing civic policies like CEI. This political science theory recognizes that policies themselves send important signals that have implications for students’ civic development. We utilize the policy design framework to analyze CEI and, in particular, how CEI is likely to shape students’ civic and political engagement. We conclude with a proposal for future research on civic education using the policy design framework.
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U2 - 10.1080/0161956X.2019.1553602
DO - 10.1080/0161956X.2019.1553602
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85060994546
VL - 94
SP - 63
EP - 77
JO - Peabody Journal of Education
JF - Peabody Journal of Education
SN - 0161-956X
IS - 1
ER -