Credentials

Research Results

Citizenship education is important because civic skills do not develop naturally or in the course of typical American school experience.  This finding is supported by research conducted by KAT, in cooperation with Sharon Kletzien, Ph.D. at West Chester University.

Open-ended public policy scenarios were administered as a pre-test to over 400 third graders and sixth graders, and then as a post-test to students after they had pursued a KAT project. Rubrics on which students' responses were scaled included their demonstration of the importance of research before advocating an opinion on an issue, and their understanding that there are multiple opinions in the community on public policy issues, among other democratic concepts.

Analysis of the pre-tests indicated no measurable differences in civic capabilities between 3rd and 6th graders. However, analysis of the post-tests, conducted after the students had participated in KAT, revealed significant improvements on five key areas, as well as differences in sophistication attributable to grade level.

Civic understanding and skills must be nurtured. They're not automatic.

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