Education for Civic Life and Work

Promise 

Each student is prepared for global workforce competition and
equipped to vote, volunteer, and lift their voices in public life through
stage-appropriate instruction, learning about their culture, democracy, and history.

Problem 

The United States spends 2.7 times as much (per person) on
incarceration as it does on education. In 2022, we saw the most severe drop in math scores for 4th and 8th graders since the first National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) was conducted in 1990. Thirteen states have no civics course requirement, and only seven require a full year of government or civics instruction.

Policy Path 

In this zone, CDF will advocate for public policy related to: (1) Positive youth development, (2) Civics education, (3) Workforce development, (4) Culturally-responsive pedagogy, and (5) Equitable education funding formulas.

Moonshot Generational Commitment

Lower the federal the voting age to 16 years old. Evolve public school funding from primary reliance on property taxes to more equitable revenue model.

Learn More

Related Updates

  • For Our Children: Every Summer is #FreedomSummer for CDF

    June 18, 2026 – In June, we honor the spirit of Freedom Summer and the generations of organizers, educators, and advocates who have worked to expand justice and opportunity for children and families. This moment calls us to remember that lasting change is built through community, courage, and an unwavering commitment to child well-being.…

  • For Our Children: Building the Country Our Children Deserve

    May 5, 2026 – In May, we pause to observe National Foster Care Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and National Teacher Appreciation Week. Together, these bring into focus the systems, conditions, and communities that shape family stability and children’s well-being in the nation.…

  • For Our Children: Take Action for Our Children

    A call for protecting progress in education and child well-being amid rising costs and policy shifts. Learn how partners are urging action to strengthen supports for children and families and ways to help ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.…

  • Early Childhood

    The Truth About Youth Crime, Raise the Age

    I was 13 years old when New York decided my childhood was over. It wasn’t a weapon or a felony—it was a dollar. I bullied a classmate into giving it to me, and the state responded by sending me to jail.…