Civic Education

In the Era of Truth Decay

Public schools that serve K–12 students can play a key role in combating Truth Decay by supporting students' civic learning and engagement. As part of RAND’s Countering Truth Decay initiative, RAND administered a survey to a nationally representative sample of K-12 teachers who teach social studies, using the RAND American Educator Panels. This series of AEP Data Notes explores the civic education practices, beliefs, and experiences of social studies teachers across the U.S.

How Do Teachers Approach Civic and Citizenship Education?
Survey results suggest that, in U.S. public schools, civic and citizenship education is often siloed into specific subjects areas, such as social science. Only a quarter of educators said that these topics are integrated into all subjects or are part of the whole school experience.
Sep 29, 2022
Melissa Kay Diliberti, Julia H. Kaufman @juliahkaufman
Approaches and Obstacles to Teaching Media Literacy
The majority of U.S. public schools address media literacy competencies in some manner. But according to K–12 teachers, instruction is unevenly implemented, at best, and obstacles are common. Media literacy education also varies across schools of different ethnic compositions and poverty levels.
Sep 23, 2021
Garrett Baker, Susannah Faxon-Mills, et al.
Guidance for Teaching Media Literacy in Schools
Media literacy education can help counter “Truth Decay” by teaching young people how to consume media and contribute responsibly to the information ecosystem. To this end, RAND researchers developed recommendations for implementing media literacy standards in the classroom.
Aug 4, 2021
Alice Huguet, John F. Pane @JohnFPane, et al.
Media Literacy Standards to Counter Truth Decay
Media literacy may be a powerful tool against Truth Decay, the diminishing role of facts in public life. What standards could help teachers, policymakers, and others implement media literacy education more effectively?
Jan 19, 2021
Alice Huguet, Garrett Baker, et al.
Preparing Children for Civic Life in the Era of Truth Decay
To restore the role of facts in public life, it's important for America's youth to develop strong civic skills. Students can build these skills in the classroom, but teachers need better resources and more support to help them do it.
Dec 8, 2020
Laura S. Hamilton, Julia H. Kaufman @juliahkaufman, et al.
Social Studies Teachers' Trust in Institutions and Groups
U.S. social studies teachers do not have a great deal of trust in many public institutions, such as news outlets and the government. This might have implications for how much they draw on or reference such institutions in their instruction.
Aug 24, 2020
Julia H. Kaufman @juliahkaufman, Laura S. Hamilton, et al.
Social Studies Teachers' Perspectives on Key Civic Outcomes in 2010 and 2019
High school social studies teachers play an important role in fostering the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions that students need to thrive after graduation. How have these teachers' perspectives on student civic development changed from 2010 to 2019?
Aug 3, 2020
Laura S. Hamilton, Julia H. Kaufman @juliahkaufman, et al.
How Teachers Use Civics Instructional Materials
Teachers' instructional materials provide a window into civic education in schools. Where are public-school social studies teachers getting most of their instructional materials? And how are they using these materials to teach civics?
Jul 13, 2020
Julia H. Kaufman @juliahkaufman, Laura S. Hamilton, et al.
Understanding Media Use and Literacy in Schools
Schools can play a key role in fighting Truth Decay—the diminishing role of facts in U.S. public life—by teaching media literacy to students. How much emphasis do teachers and schools put on this subject?
Jun 29, 2020
Laura S. Hamilton, Julia H. Kaufman @juliahkaufman, et al.
Media Literacy Education as a Tool for Mitigating 'Truth Decay'
Can media literacy education help counter the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life? To find out, RAND experts analyzed what we know—and don't know—about the subject.
Jul 11, 2019
Alice Huguet, Jennifer Kavanagh, et al.