Why an unfunded civics mandate risks our future

It’s hard not to feel heavily burdened by the weight of the moment we are experiencing in our political discourse. What actually can make a difference? What can one person do? Where do I even start? 

For the next generation, these aren’t just rhetorical questions, they are a source of profound distress. A staggering 64% of young Americans believe our democracy is either in crisis or has already failed, according to the Fall 2025 Harvard Youth Poll. This isn’t just political stress; it is a systemic crisis of confidence. The Institute for Citizens & Scholars further highlights this trust gap, finding that over half of young adults have little to no trust in our public institutions.

Despite the high levels of distrust, that same research reveals that young people are actually more interested in engaging across differences than older generations. They are just waiting for the toolkit. What would our nation look like if the next generation possessed the durable skills to not only process the events they are witnessing, but to tackle them head on?

When we think of civic education and engagement, we often only think of it in the sense of memorizing the Bill of Rights, the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, or singing songs from “SchoolHouse Rock,” but it’s so much more than that. It’s about conflict resolution, media literacy and systemic advocacy — all of which translate into a valuable, universal skill set for a future leader in the community or professional.

The Rhode Island General Assembly agreed with that sentiment and passed the Civic Literacy Act in 2021. This landmark legislation requires middle and high school students to demonstrate civic proficiency to graduate and mandates that every school district provide at least one student-led civics project. 

While this was a great start, it unfortunately joined the ranks of other unfunded mandates that burden our public sector and in particular, our school districts. Without dedicated resources for teacher professional development, curriculum creation, and the logistical support required for project-based learning, we have created a mandate without a road map. As a result, the quality of a student’s civic education in the Ocean State depends almost entirely on their ZIP code. 

Data from a 2022 report by CIRCLE at Tufts University, commissioned by the Rhode Island Civic Learning Coalition and Generation Citizen, paints a sobering picture of this civic desert. While 95% of Rhode Island teachers believe they can teach civics effectively, only 46% report their districts have standalone civics courses. Even more concerning are the persistent inequities. Students in high-socioeconomic districts are nearly twice as likely to feel confident explaining the roles of the three branches of government compared to their peers in lower-income districts. When only 32% of students in low-income districts feel they can explain their rights and responsibilities as citizens, we are effectively imposing barriers to civic participation upon an entire generation of future leaders before they even reach voting age.

Other New England states have found comprehensive solutions to back their civic education mandates with permanent investments. Massachusetts specifically established a Civic Project Trust Fund with their civic education mandate legislation in 2018 which provides millions in grants specifically for student projects and teacher training. The Connecticut Legislature has recently made the commitment to provide the necessary instructional materials and development from the state level to ensure standards are met with substance. 

We’re beyond a boiling point in our national and local discourse, and we’re seeing the consequences of deprioritizing civic literacy every single day in the rise of disinformation and the retreat into echo chambers. An investment in civics education is an effective immediate and long-term, preventative strategy to position young people to meet this moment. It also lays effective groundwork for young Rhode Islanders to learn how to step into their civic voice and agency in the future. Making this investment now comes at far less of a cost than dealing with a fractured society later. 

Youth want this. Rhode Island teachers want to teach this. But they need the time, mentorship, and sustained resources to make this mandate successful. These opportunities should not be a luxury reserved for a few, but a right guaranteed to all.

This legislative session, our leaders have a clear opportunity to finally align our state’s budget with our civic values. Legislation filed this session in the Senate and House includes $1 million investment in civics education, with $600,000 of that designated for teacher professional development and support for student-led projects.

By supporting efforts to establish a permanent funding stream for civics, we can move beyond a symbolic mandate and ensure the Civic Literacy Act is more than just words on a page. Our democracy is only as strong as the people who participate in it.