Education is at an inflection point. For decades, we have structured learning around content delivery—standardized, decontextualized, and increasingly disconnected from the real world. But a rapidly changing global landscape demands something different: an approach to learning that is immersive, relational, and participatory. It requires a shift from passive knowledge absorption to active engagement, from students as recipients of information to young people as co-creators of their own learning pathways through participatory civics education.

We are interested in the power of participation—how learning transforms when students engage deeply with their communities, when schools become hubs of civic and economic vitality, and when education is designed as a living, breathing ecosystem of relationships. By weaving together insights from place-based education, learning science, democracy education, and systems change, we believe that participation is not just an instructional strategy—it is the foundation of a thriving democracy, a resilient society, and a sustainable future. Schools must shift from institutions of preparation to communities of participation.

When Traditional Civics Education Falls Short, Participatory Civics Education Steps In

Civics education in the United States—and globally—has historically emphasized the transmission of information about political structures and the theoretical rights and responsibilities of citizens. While this approach aims to equip students with foundational knowledge, it fails to activate their curiosity and full potential as engaged, critical, and creative co-creators of participatory governance and problem-solving systems.

Several key failures of traditional civic education have become increasingly apparent:

  1. A confined participatory framework: Traditional civics has operated within a narrow framework where participation is reduced to voting and occasional public service, rather than a dynamic, ongoing process of engagement. The rise of neoliberalism further shifted power to markets, leaving ordinary citizens feeling powerless in governance and community decision-making.
  2. Outdated civic structures in a digital age. The original structures of democracy were not designed for broad popular participation. Historically, this was acceptable because access to political influence was limited. However, with the rise of digital communication and social media, the gap between public expectations, readily available information, and the reality of actual influence has widened, leading to widespread disillusionment and frustration.

Read the full article about participatory civics education by Tom Vander Ark, Nate McClennen, and Fernande Raine at Getting Smart.