First Survey of Civic Education Programs in New Jersey School Districts Finds Need for Improvement

NEW BRUNSWICK/PISCATAWAY, N.J. Only 39 percent of New Jersey school districts require students to take a course in civics or American government, according to the first Inventory of Civic Education in New Jersey Schools.

The majority of students have no exposure to civic content knowledge other than whatever is taught in American history, the only state-mandated social studies course, said Arlene Gardner, director of the New Jersey Center for Civic and Law-Related Education (NJCLRE) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, which conducted the survey. About 90 percent of districts report they incorporate the study of civics, American democracy and citizenship into their curricula between grades 6 through 12, but offerings might range from just a few class periods to several weeks.

The research was undertaken last fall, with assistance from the Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Public Interest Polling, for the New Jersey Coalition to Support the Civic Mission of the Schools. The coalition is a partnership of educators and public policy-makers concerned about the low level of civic literacy and civic participation.

Superintendents in 570 districts (excluding special service districts and charter schools) received a 23-question survey covering their civic education curricula, and 189 (33 percent) responded. Respondents were largely representative of the entire state in terms of size and region. The survey carries a 6 percent margin of error.

The study found that required courses in civics, democracy or citizenship are most frequently taught in middle school, while electives often high school advanced placement courses draw between only 10 percent and 20 percent of the student body.

Three-quarters of districts teach character education, primarily in kindergarten

through 5th grade, but only one-third of high schools do.

Among other findings:

Nearly 90 percent of districts report their students participate in school governance.

Seventy-six percent offer co-curricular or extra-curricular civic education programs.

Mock elections and mock trials are the most popular civic education activities engaged in by students.

Only 35 percent of districts have offered teachers professional development workshops during the past five years.

Asked how to improve their civic education curriculum, virtually all districts support use of current, inexpensive, readily accessible classroom materials and want access to online materials.

A required civics/social studies course is perceived as being helpful by 64 percent of the districts.

A required civics/social studies statewide assessment is perceived as being helpful by 51 percent of the districts.

This inventory provides the first-ever snapshot of civic education in New Jersey, said Gardner, who described the research at the second Congressional Conference on Civic Education a gathering of 400 legislators, officials and education leaders in Washington, D.C., in December.

The New Jersey Coalition to Support the Civic Mission of the Schools will meet in March to analyze the research and prepare for a statewide Civics Summit next December, when students will demonstrate promising programs and practices for educators and policy-makers, Gardner said.

For more information and survey results, call (732) 445-3413 or visit the NJCLRE Web site at a href="http://civiced.rutgers.edu">civiced.rutgers.edu. Click on Civic Mission of the Schools and then on Civic Education Inventory.

Contact: Steve Manas

732/932-7084, ext. 612

E-mail: smanas@ur.rutgers.edu