The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) has announced the launch of a major statewide civics education program for middle-grade students as part of its 250th Initiative. The program, titled Civics Connects, is designed to provide a comprehensive, classroom-ready resource for Virginia students.

Civics Connects is the result of years of related work by the VMHC and its John Marshall Center for Constitutional History & Civics (JMC). The program offers a variety of educational tools, including lesson plans, interactive slides, classroom activities and access to on-site educators and subject matter experts. 

Additionally, the program will feature a series of video shorts in which Virginia middle schoolers act as civics investigators, visiting significant sites such as the Virginia State Capitol, VMHC, the National Archives and the White House.

The initiative comes at a critical time. Even before the pandemic-induced learning loss, civics education in the United States was in decline, as evidenced by low standardized test scores and widespread apathy toward democratic principles among young Americans.

According to the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, only about one in three Americans can pass the U.S. Citizenship Test, and fewer than half can name all three branches of government, based on research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Furthermore, a survey by The Economist/YouGov found that about half of young Americans do not believe democracy is preferable to other forms of government.

Amid this backdrop, Civics Connects aims to provide Virginia students with a robust toolkit for exploring and understanding civics. The program covers all Virginia Standards of learning for civics and economics in the middle grades and aligns with national standards.

“We are excited to offer a revolutionary new program that will equip Virginia students with a deeper understanding of civics, democracy, and the responsibility of citizenship,” said Jamie Bosket, VMHC President & CEO. “The launch of this program is a momentous occasion for Virginia, as it puts the Commonwealth at the forefront of a national movement to prioritize civics education and invest in the future of American democracy.”

Civics Connects will be supported by a Civics Ambassador Corps, consisting of educators from all eight Virginia Superintendent Regions. These educators will pilot and promote the program beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.

This period will see Virginia schools transitioning from the 2015 standards of learning to those approved in 2023, including a shift in civics education from eighth to seventh grade.

Civics Connects is designed to ensure that all Virginia middle school students receive a full year of civics education before high school.

The program will introduce units throughout the year, starting with America’s Founding Documents in July. Civics Connects is a key component of the VMHC’s 250th Initiative, a three-year project supporting the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. In addition to Civics Connects, the VMHC will host two major exhibitions in 2025 and 2026, along with traveling versions across the state. For more information, visit virginiahistory.org/learn/civics-connects.