New test scores and surveys are laying out a sobering reality in classrooms across the country: a lot of students are stumbling over the basics of how the U.S. government works. From middle school civics quizzes to national assessments, large gaps in knowledge about the Constitution, the three branches, and the role of the courts have educators and parents sounding the alarm. The concern has sparked calls for clearer graduation requirements, more dedicated class time, and updated teaching tools to rebuild civic literacy.
As reported by BakersfieldNow, new data suggest many American students do not know basic features of their own government. In an interview with Erika Sanzi of Defending Education, the outlet highlighted calls for schools to re-prioritize foundational civics instruction and for states to consider setting clearer graduation requirements around civics.
What the tests show
The Nation’s Report Card, the NAEP civics assessment, offers a blunt snapshot. In 2022, roughly a third of eighth graders scored below the NAEP “Basic” level in civics, suggesting many students likely cannot describe the structure and function of government, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Average civics scores slipped compared with the 2018 assessment, reversing earlier gains and fueling debate about pandemic-era learning losses. Educators point to that downward trend as evidence that quick fixes are not cutting it, arguing that only sustained curricular change is likely to move the needle.
Adults aren't immune
The knowledge gaps do not end at graduation. The Annenberg Public Policy Center’s annual Constitution Day survey has consistently found that only about two thirds of adults can name all three branches of government, and many Americans struggle to recall basic First Amendment rights, according to Annenberg. The results suggest weak civic literacy can linger well into adulthood, making it harder for voters to make sense of political news and to hold public officials to account.
Teachers say it’s getting harder
Teachers say they are feeling the strain in real time. A 2026 iCivics teacher survey of more than 2,000 educators found a majority, about 52.7 percent, report that teaching basic civics concepts feels more difficult now, with many citing limited instructional time, uneven training, and fear of backlash for touching on contentious topics, according to iCivics. The survey also found sizable numbers of teachers altering lessons or pulling materials altogether because of political and administrative pressure.
Lawmakers push fixes
Policymakers have started pitching their own remedies for the civics slump. In March, Senator Andy Kim rolled out a legislative package to expand federal support for hands-on civics learning, create a commission to study civic education, and back national student competitions, according to a press release from Sen. Andy Kim’s office. State legislatures in recent years have also moved to tighten graduation requirements or introduce civics tests, extending a broader fight over what exactly should be taught in social studies classrooms.
What districts can do
Experts note that districts do not have to start from scratch to raise the bar. The Educating for American Democracy Roadmap offers an inquiry-based framework that weaves history and civics together across grade levels, and organizations that produce lesson-level materials and simulations can help teachers turn those standards into daily practice, according to Educating for American Democracy. Districts that combine clearer standards with solid teacher training, protected instructional time, and practical assessments report stronger results in pilot efforts.
Closing the civics gap will take more than a new test or a spicy headline. Teachers, parents, and policymakers will need to agree on what civic literacy should look like, fund the professional development that underpins it, and make space in the schedule for students to practice the skills of citizenship. The choices made now will shape how the next generation understands the government it is about to inherit.
