Massachusetts Leaders Approve 33% Increase in Civic Education Funds

By Natacha Scott, iCivics Director of Educator Engagement and Statewide Coordinator for the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has approved a budget for FY23 that increases the Commonwealth’s funding for civic education from $1.5 million to $2 million. 

The 33% increase in the allocation for the Civic Project Trust Fund will go to state and local education officials to help develop and implement programs for students and teachers across Massachusetts. The increase is the result of a six month campaign led by civic education leaders and the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC).

Since February, hundreds of MCLC members have reached out to their legislators through in-person meetings and office correspondence to convince lawmakers of the need for the increase. This marks the first increase for the Trust Fund since it was established four years ago in tandem with the passage of the 2018 Civic Education Bill, which re-established civic education as a core subject for Massachusetts students and required student-led civic projects in 8th Grade and high school. 

It is a significant step for civic education in the Commonwealth, as local school systems need resources to update their curricula and prepare their teachers to teach students the skills they need to engage in civic activity. 

We are grateful to the Governor and legislature for giving civic education a big boost for the coming school year. We are especially grateful to Senators Harriette Chandler (D-1st)  and Becca Rausch (D–Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex) and Representative Linda Dean Campbell (D–15th), who led the successful campaign from inside the State House, sponsoring and building the support for the amendment to increase the funding. 

In recent years, Massachusetts has ranked as having one of the top civic education programs in the nation, yet most school systems in the Commonwealth do not have comprehensive K-12 civic education programs. Many students do not have access to programs to learn the workings of our democracy and to develop the skills necessary to effectively engage in civic action. Gateway Cities, which have high BIPOC populations and have under-resourced school systems, are particularly in need of support and resources. In particular:

• Few schools have comprehensive 8th grade civic project programs. Many high schools have very limited programs to meet the civic education project requirements of the legislation.

• Many teachers have little access to professional development

• School systems often lack access to quality civic education curricula, especially in Grades K-5.

• Since 2018, the amount of state funding has fallen short of the demand for the state grant program to provide adequate resources for school systems to develop and implement their civic education curriculum. Over the past two years, only 32% of the grant proposals were funded.

This $500,000 increase in the budget will be used to:

• Provide more local grants to help school systems initiate civic education curricula and programs.

• Fund the creation of a comprehensive statewide professional development program 

• Create innovative curriculum resources for school systems for grades K-12. 

• Support the Commonwealth Civics Challenge, a showcase for student-led civics projects that will highlight examples of student civic engagement.

We are incredibly excited about the opportunities that this additional investment offers for Massachusetts to remain a leader in civic education.