MAY 3—BOSTON, MA — This morning, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, better known as our Nation’s Report Card, released the U.S. History and Civics results for 2022 – revealing the lowest scores since 1994. Just 13% of our nation’s 8th graders are proficient in US History and just 22% are proficient in Civics.
The National Parents Union released the following statement:
“Thomas Jefferson warned that ‘a well informed electorate is a prerequisite to a democracy’ and today’s NAEP scores reveal that the future of our democracy is in peril.
Without an understanding of our history and how to be an active participant in our civic society, we can be certain that the health of our democracy will be compromised.
The moment we are in requires an accurate teaching of America’s history, both the progress made and the pains that persist, as well as civics instruction that illustrates how students’ participation in democracy can create a better and brighter future for their generation.
These results are yet another red flag for lawmakers across the country about just how far behind our children are. This should be a call for them to GET FOCUSED on improving academic outcomes so that our children are prepared for the future.
It is abundantly clear we have our work cut out for us and it is incumbent on us all to provide students with a history and civics curriculum that is rich and inspiring.
The stakes have never been higher. The future of our democracy depends on it.”
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION
With more than 1,000 affiliated parent organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, the National Parents Union is the united, independent voice of modern American families. We channel the power of parents into powerful policies that improve the lives of children, families and communities across the United States. https://nationalparentsunion.org/