Civic Engagement and Education Among Black Youth: A Report on Challenges and Opportunities Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Black youth in the United States often appear in public discussions about civics primarily concerning disparities such as lower scores on civic assessments, underfunded schools, and limited access to quality civic education. While these issues are urgent and real, they represent only part of the narrative.

Current State of Civic Education and Engagement

Despite challenges, Black youth are among the most civically engaged young people in the country, yet they are frequently excluded from conversations about civic excellence.

• Only about 10% of Black eighth graders scored at or above proficiency on the latest NAEP Civics assessment.
• This low proficiency is attributed to deprioritization of civics in schools, overshadowed by high-stakes testing in other subjects and curricula that often omit the histories and voices relevant to Black students.

Active Civic Participation of Black Youth

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, it is important to recognize the active civic participation of Black youth:

1. They engage in protests, organize community actions, attend town halls, write petitions, and participate in voting with their families at higher rates than their peers.
2. According to the State of Young People 2024 Research Report, Black teens are more likely to engage in nearly every form of civic action measured.
3. 42% of Black youth believe they can influence government decisions, compared to 29% of other young people.

The Paradox of Civic Engagement and Educational Neglect

This paradox—high civic engagement despite limited civic learning—highlights two critical realities:

• Black youth continue a legacy of civic activism grounded in resilience, community, and justice.
• The education system fails to adequately support these students with comprehensive, community-based civics education.

This gap restricts Black students and their peers from accessing civic education that prepares them to effectively steward democracy locally and nationally.

Expanding the Definition of Civic Excellence

Traditional measures of civic readiness, such as test scores and formal instruction participation, overlook the existing civic leadership among Black youth. To address this, the following actions are recommended:

• Support project-based civic assessments.
• Fully fund state-issued civic seal programs recognizing demonstrated civic readiness.
• Invest in professional development for educators in civic education.

Successful Models of Civic Education

Organizations exemplifying effective civic education include:

• Democracy Prep Public Schools: A national network of tuition-free public charter schools offering pre-K to grade 12 education. Alumni show significantly higher voter registration and turnout rates.
• Generation Citizen: A nonprofit providing community-based civics programming to over 33,000 middle and high school students annually, empowering them to identify local issues, develop policy proposals, and engage with public officials.

Outcomes from these programs include:

• Democracy Prep alumni are 16 percentage points more likely to register to vote and 12 percentage points more likely to vote than peers.
• 90% of Generation Citizen students report increased civic skills after participation.

Recommendations for Sustainable and Inclusive Civic Education

To align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), the following measures are essential:

1. Implement culturally responsive and participation-driven civics curricula that empower marginalized communities.
2. Fund civic internships, student leadership councils, and school-based organizing opportunities.
3. Listen to and support Black youth leaders with resources to expand their impact.
4. Ensure equitable access to high-quality civic education across all communities to foster inclusive and participatory democracies.

Conclusion

Black youth are not waiting for empowerment; they are already leading civic change. Schools and policymakers must rise to meet their leadership with comprehensive, affirming civic education that supports sustainable development and democratic participation.

Authors

Rashid Duroseau, Senior Director of Civic Learning at Democracy Prep Public Schools, and Andrew Wilkes, Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at Generation Citizen, contributed to this report.

References

• NAEP Civics Assessment Results
• State of Young People 2024 Research Report
• Democracy Prep Public Schools
• Generation Citizen
• Peer-Reviewed Longitudinal Study on Democracy Prep

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The article highlights disparities in civic education quality, underfunded schools, and the need for comprehensive, culturally responsive civic learning.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Focus on historically marginalized Black youth and their limited access to quality civic education and opportunities.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • Emphasis on civic engagement, youth participation in democracy, and fostering leadership to improve communities and governance.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including education for citizenship and civic engagement.
   • Target 4.c: Increase the supply of qualified teachers through professional development, as mentioned regarding funding for teachers’ professional development in civic education.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of race or ethnicity, reflected in the call for systematic investment in civic education for marginalized communities.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels, linked to youth civic participation and leadership.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions, implied through fostering civic readiness and engagement.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 4 Indicators
   • Proficiency rates on the NAEP Civics assessment (e.g., only about 10% of Black eighth graders scored at or above proficiency).
   • Percentage of students reporting increased civic skills after participation in programs like Generation Citizen (90% reported increased civic skills).
   • Rates of student participation in civic education programs and access to project-based civic learning.
   • Number of teachers receiving professional development in civic education.
2. SDG 10 Indicators
   • Access to quality civic education among marginalized groups, particularly Black youth.
   • Participation rates of Black youth in civic activities compared to peers.
3. SDG 16 Indicators
   • Voter registration and voting rates among youth, specifically Democracy Prep alumni being 16 percentage points more likely to register and 12 points more likely to vote.
   • Percentage of youth who believe they can influence government actions (42% of Black youth vs. 29% of others).
   • Participation in civic actions such as protests, organizing, petitions, and town hall attendance.
   • Implementation and recognition through state-issued civic seal programs for demonstrated civic readiness.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hechingerreport.org