Indicator: Civic engagement
Definition
Individuals exhibit the knowledge, skills, values, motivation, and activities that promote quality of life within a community and society at large through political and nonpolitical processes.
RECOMMENDED METRIC(S)
K–12: Percentage of students reporting a high level of civic engagement on surveys such as the Youth Civic and Character Measures Toolkit Survey and Youth Civic Engagement Indicators Project Survey
Postsecondary and workforce: Percentage of individuals reporting a high level of civic engagement on surveys such as the Index of Civic and Political Engagement
Type(s) of Data Needed
SurveysWhy it matters
Participating in civic work can help develop transferrable career skills, such as coalition-building, communication, project development and implementation, meeting facilitation, and problem solving. Community engagement activities, including volunteerism and participation in community decision making, are associated with improved well-being among both youth and adults. Acknowledging its importance, the American Association of Colleges and Universities deems civic engagement an “essential learning outcome,” and at least two states require community service as part of their high school graduation requirements.
A study of civic participation by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) shows that White survey respondents tend to be civically engaged at higher rates than Black, Latino, and Asian respondents, regardless of socioeconomic status (SES). However, it acknowledges two important limitations of the analysis: (1) potential bias in what survey-based measures capture (that is, they often do not capture informal civic activity), and (2) potential barriers to participation in civic activities for communities of color.
What to know about measurement
We propose using a survey-based measure of civic engagement. Several survey tools exist to measure this indicator and related constructs, though the use of different instruments across contexts would reduce comparability of this indicator. We have identified and suggested survey tools with an evidence base; however, other instruments may also be appropriate or are under development. For example, the Postsecondary Value Commission describes ongoing work by the Next Generation Undergraduate Student Success Measurement Project to measure civic engagement, which it defines as “community participation that facilitates the development of democratic skills, media literacy that supports political knowledge, and values that promote equity, diversity, and justice.”
Voter registration rates and voting rates offer a more comparable and less burdensome alternative to survey-based measures because individual records can be linked to administrative voter data and are often used as proxies for civic engagement among adults. However, voter registration and participation are impacted by voter disenfranchisement policies, and noncitizens cannot vote in elections. If feasible, a survey-based, multidimensional measure provides a more inclusive view of civic engagement.
Source frameworks
This indicator appeared in nine source frameworks reviewed for this report. Many source frameworks, including the Urban Institute’s Metrics for Boosting Economic Mobility and Race Count’s Education and Economic Opportunity indicators, focus on participation in political processes (for example, voting). Our definition draws from this work as well as the National Research Council’s Key National Education Indicators which includes cognitive skills, as well as activities such as volunteerism and community engagement in its definition for civic engagement.
References
The framework's recommendations are based on syntheses of existing research. Please see the framework report for a list of works cited.