Effective civic education gives students the foundation they need through classroom and hands-on experiences to be a contributing citizen in our democracy. Reconnecting high school students with representative democracy delivers multiple benefits:

• Recent evidence suggests that simulations of voting, trials, legislative deliberations, and diplomacy in schools can lead to heightened political knowledge.
• Studies have shown that extracurricular participation is a better predictor of adult community engagement than education or income.
• Initial research shows that service learning may be more effective at instilling civic skills and values among young people than community service or volunteering that is unrelated to the curriculum
• Formal instruction in U.S. government, history, and democracy increases civic knowledge
• Research suggests that giving students more opportunities to participate in the management of their own classrooms and schools builds their civic skills and attitudes.
• Students who participate in quality service learning programs tend to exhibit improved civic skills and attitudes, especially responsibility for helping others, tolerance, acceptance of diversity and a lasting commitment to volunteering.