Democracy by nature requires an informed and engaged electorate. ResearchLevine, P., & Kawashima-Ginsberg, K. (2017). The Republic is (Still) at Risk—and Civics is Part of the Solution. Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University. tells us that it is critical that students participate in civic learning that include:

• the 21st-century skills of collaboration, cooperation, and consensus-building; 
• an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; and 
• knowledge on the roots of our democracy. 

What can be done to help energize school-based civic education to produce better outcomes for our society?

The introduction and implementation of a civic diploma seal at your school could help. Civics diploma seals are tangible symbols of the value of comprehensive and research-based civic education practices in schools. It is an endorsement that indicates exemplary performance in a specific area of study, and a civics diploma seal can signify a student's competency in civic knowledge, responsibility, values, and engagement. Seals send a signal to colleges and employers that a student has excelled in an area of study. Local education agencies can take great pride in the number of diploma seals that are awarded to students, and diploma seals can serve as an accountability measure for school effectiveness, and a way to encourage parents and the public to support civic education.

NCSS encourages the creation of civics diploma seals in each state. We provide these resources to help all NCSS members and social studies professionals advocate for a civics diploma seal program in their states, districts, or schools.