Civics Education in Charter Schools Focus of AEI Panel Discussion, Report

This panel discussion hosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) on Sept. 14, 2011, focused on charter schools and civics education and featured charter school leaders Mike Feinberg of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), Seth Andrew of Democracy Prep, and Juan Rangel of the UNO Charter School Network, as well as Center on Reinventing Public Education Associate Director Robin Lake. The panel was moderated by AEI Education Policy Studies Director Frederick M. Hess. David Feith, co-founder of the Civic Education Initiative to strengthen civics knowledge, introduced the subject.

The discussion focused on the importance of taking school programs beyond standardized test preparation to creating within students the drive to be productive and civically engaged citizens no matter their specific calling. Rangel said 98 percent of the 5,500 students enrolled in the 11 schools in the UNO network in Chicago are Hispanic, primarily of Mexican descent. Part of the challenge is getting students and families to focus on the reality of their presence and likely future in the United States rather than what he said is the popular but typically unfulfilled notion of returning to Mexico. Andrew said he is working on ways to measure civic development among the students. Those efforts include keeping track of students’ involvement in community governance, such as testifying before government agencies. Feinberg said widening student exposure to the workings of their government is important. He cited as an example school trips to Washington, D.C., and opportunities to not only visit the U.S. Supreme Court but actually speak with justices about issues that have been covered in class. Lake said the area of civics education in charter schools is ripe for research.

Also, a January 2012 report from AEI describes how charter schools are integrating civics lessons into their programs. Strengthening the Civic Mission of Charter Schools includes examples of initiatives from charter school organizations and offers policy recommendations for developing such efforts in all types of schools.