One recent organization to fall victim to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s scorched-earth reduction of federal spending is the Center for Civic Education, a national nonprofit focused on providing civic education through state organizations. On Feb. 10, VACivics, Virginia’s state civic nonprofit, released a notice that the federal government cut funding for the We The People program run by the CCE, consequently cutting funding for its operation in the state. Cutting funding for this and other civic programs will inevitably lead to a disastrous decline in an already low level of civic education among middle and high school students. In order to truly dedicate itself to the ideals of an educated democracy, Virginia must step up to fill the gap in civic education left by the federal government.
Although you may not have heard of the organization, VACivics invests vital resources into Virginia’s public education system with the goal of protecting civic education. One of the programs that VACivics administers is We The People, a state curriculum that teaches students about the history and structure of the United States government and hosts an annual national civics competition. The CCE and VACivics also provide educational resources, such as textbooks, for schools and teachers, increasing access to integral democratic education in middle and high schools. Since the program’s inception in 1987, these textbooks have served over 30 million students and 75,000 educators across the nation, including Virginia. These materials are paramount to teaching civics in the state, and officials must take due care to ensure any funding cuts will not hamper access to them.
Spending cuts also jeopardize VACivics’ ability to provide proper training and development opportunities to those who teach civics. VACivics’ James Madison Legacy Project Expansion Program, which provides professional development opportunities for high school social studies teachers, is an example of another program that may come to an end if grant funding continues to be cut. This program allows teachers to receive more extensive training and additional civics resources, such as teacher’s guides and guest speakers. These resources enable civics teachers to better elucidate the importance of an active and educated citizenry. Cutting off the money for these programs means putting an end to initiatives that have collectively trained over 2,100 teachers. On all fronts, these spending cuts pose a risk to civic education in the Commonwealth.
Virginia has consistently had a record of extensive civic participation, as shown through the 70 percent turnout in general elections, a number much greater than the national average. Therefore, severe cuts to civic education programs threaten Virginia’s reputation for civic participation and education. If the next generation of voters is to maintain the state’s commitment to political engagement, they must have the tools necessary to learn about the government they will be called to participate in.
At least some state leaders already seem ready to provide assistance for civic education. Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently declared a “Civic Engagement Week” in March to celebrate Virginia’s history of prioritizing civic literacy while also recognizing the importance of civic education more generally. A proclamation of support, though a nice sentiment, does little to concretely assist civic education in the state. If Youngkin is serious about supporting civic education — and it appears that he is — he must work to provide tangible funding to these initiatives even if it means opposing the leader of his own party.
Filling this gap requires a brave effort from Virginian leaders, as Trump and Musk’s spending cuts begin to affect the state. Rhetorically, Virginia has shown a commitment to civic education which is encouraging — the Virginia Department of Education has gone so far as to place civic education at the core of its public education mission. With education being an issue traditionally tackled by state legislatures, the General Assembly is uniquely situated to respond with support through additional funding and wielding its power over the state purse.
Support for civic education, while important at all times, is especially needed now as Virginia and the nation grapple with President Trump’s abuses of power. An educated citizenry can work to stymie usurpations through a popular check on the government. As the state continues to navigate the rough seas left in the wake of Trump’s spending cuts, Virginia must step up to address the shortcomings in civic education left by the federal government if it truly believes in the ideals of democracy and an educated citizenry.
Michael King is a viewpoint writer who writes about politics for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.
The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of The Cavalier Daily. Columns represent the views of the authors alone.
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