The American Civic Education Ecosystem: A Landscape Analysis

Posted by Hoover Institution on March 3, 2026

We are pleased to share The American Civic Education Ecosystem: A Landscape Analysis with you. The Center for Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI) at Stanford’s Hoover Institution commissioned this landscape analysis in order to make informed decisions about how the Center, and its Working Group on Civics and American Citizenship, might contribute in meaningful ways.

Our team at the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions carried out an extensive ecosystem scan, conducted a series of interviews and focus groups, and gathered survey data from over 7,600 educators and students to develop an understanding of the American civic education landscape. This report summarizes three broad trends and twelve specific observations to foster engagement among the attentive public and educators and to encourage further dialogue and contributions that strengthen the civics ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

• Civic education is foundational to sustaining our republic, strengthening democratic engagement, and rebuilding trust in American institutions.
• Civic education has long been marginalized, but recent trends point towards revitalized momentum and investment.
• Our findings reveal clear gaps in the civic education ecosystem that present promising opportunities for renewal and collaboration.
• The demand and need for improved civic knowledge and education spans generations, extending beyond traditional educational settings.
• Educators, students, and leaders we interviewed overwhelmingly agree that civic learning should transcend partisanship and emphasize pluralism, dialogue across differences, and shared democratic commitments.

Download the report.