Giving Compass' Take:

• Allison Lee Pillinger Choi discusses the decline in civic education across the United States and the nonprofit Civic Spirit's efforts to revive civic education in New York classrooms.

• What are the most effective ways to engage in civic life and how can donors support students learning those skills?

•  Learn why civic engagement is so important.

America’s present climate of political polarization and discord has coincided with a decades-long decline in civic education. As a result, three-quarters of Americans are unable to name the three branches of government. Nonprofit leaders have called for reviving civic education and raising civic literacy standards in high schools. One striking proposal would require high school seniors to pass a citizenship test before graduation.

Based in New York City, Civic Spirit is dedicated to reviving civic education in middle and high school classrooms. Through a bipartisan, multidisciplinary approach, the organization creates immersive experiences for students and educators with three goals: give students a sense of belonging in their community and country; instill intellectual ownership over their inherited democratic tradition; and impart skills such as civil discourse and media literacy. Launched in 2017, Civic Spirit serves 14 independent Jewish and parochial schools totaling 5,000 students.

Despite our fractious political climate, education initiatives like Civic Spirit continue to gain momentum. They are inspiring our youngest generation to think and act as public-minded citizens.

Read the full article about New York's civic education renewal by Allison Lee Pillinger Choi at City Journal.