Civic Skill Builders

7. Massively Parallel Roles & Tasks

This introductory article was written by ChatGPT at the direction of Heidi Burgess, who reviewed, edited, and approved the final content.
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July 16, 2026

Civic Skill Builders teach people how democratic systems work and how citizens can use them to address the difficult conflicts that inevitably arise in a large and diverse society. Civic education includes knowledge of constitutional principles, governmental institutions, elections, and individual rights. But knowledge alone is not enough. Citizens also need to know how to evaluate evidence, discuss contentious issues, organize with others, petition public officials, and participate in elections and community decision making. Most importantly, they need to understand that democracy depends on citizens who accept responsibilities as well as claim rights. These include staying reasonably informed, respecting fair procedures, protecting the rights of political opponents, and continuing to participate, even when one’s preferred side loses.

Elementary and secondary schools have traditionally played a central role in developing these capacities. In many places, however, civics receives less time and attention than other subjects. Schools may also avoid controversial public issues because teachers and administrators fear accusations of political bias. This conflict avoidance carries its own costs. Students can graduate knowing little about how laws are made, how governmental power is limited, or how citizens can influence public decisions without resorting to intimidation or violence. Recent RAND research on civic education found considerable variation in how teachers approach civic learning and discussion of contested issues. High-quality civic education should neither indoctrinate students nor pretend that important disagreements do not exist. It should give students reliable knowledge and structured opportunities to examine competing arguments respectfully.

A growing number of nongovernmental organizations are helping schools strengthen this work. Civic Spirit works with faith-based schools from different religious traditions to enhance civic belonging, knowledge, and responsibility among students and faculty. Its programs combine study of American political principles with discussion, teacher development, and opportunities for civic participation. CivXNow, led by iCivics, has grown into a cross-partisan coalition of more than 400 organizations working to improve civic education through stronger course requirements, better teacher preparation, increased funding, and broader access to meaningful civic-learning experiences. Other programs use simulations, mock elections, service learning, student government, and discussion of current controversies to help young people practice citizenship rather than merely memorize facts about it.

Civic Skill Builders also serve adults. Mormon Women for Ethical Government, or MWEG, offers a useful example of an organization developing civic capacity within a particular community. It describes itself as a nonpartisan, faith-based organization that prepares women to participate meaningfully in politics and advocate for ethical government. Its courses, workshops, and other resources combine civic engagement with peacebuilding skills. Members learn how to communicate across differences, evaluate public issues, contact government officials, organize constructive advocacy, and resist political practices that violate democratic or ethical principles. Similar efforts could be developed within many religious, occupational, cultural, and neighborhood communities, using trusted relationships to help people move from political frustration to informed and responsible participation.

Public investment can help expand these opportunities, although civic education itself remains politically contested. Federal funding for K–12 history and civics programs increased from $7.75 million in fiscal year 2022 to $23 million in both fiscal years 2023 and 2024. The Department of Education’s fiscal year 2026 National Activities grant competition lists $19.8 million for projects intended to improve the teaching of American history, civics, government, and geography. Funding alone, however, will not resolve disagreements over what civic education should teach. Civic Skill Builders must help communities develop approaches that honestly confront the nation’s failures, while also explaining the value of its democratic ideals. Their larger purpose is not to produce citizens who agree about politics. It is to produce citizens who understand how to disagree, organize, deliberate, and pursue change without destroying the democratic system they need in order to live together.

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This page was created by ChatGPT in response to this prompt. It was then reviewed, edited, supplemented and approved by Heidi Burgess. More information about how and why we are using AI in this way, and about the growing number of ways in which Beyond Intractability is using ChatGPT, Claude and other AI systems to generate content and build out the BI system, is available on our BI/AI Overview Page.