Civic Education, Civic Engagement, and Youth Civic Development

Part of a special section on developmental perspectives on civic education. A discussion of the importance of civic education to civic engagement and youth civic development is provided. Although it can be argued that the U.S. continues to flourish as a democratic institution under the present conditions of political literacy and engagement, the limited empirical knowledge available of the quality of civic life suggests that there is a need for a clearer, developmental understanding of what is known about politics and how that knowledge is linked to civic engagement. Only then can informed and normative decisions be made about appropriate standards of civic education and civic engagement for youth and throughout the life cycle.