Abstract
Based on a review of current research, the author describes the degree to which U.S. schools engage in each of the six "promising practices" identified in The Civic Mission of Schools (Carnegie Corporation and CIRCLE, 2003): classroom instruction in social studies, discussion of current issues, service learning, extracurricular activities, student voice in school governance, and simulations. She concludes that these practices are significantly less likely to occur in schools with high minority, immigrant, and low-income students. Some of the challenges to implementing the six practices include the nature and quality of civic discourse in the country, the strong accountability and testing movement, and teacher staffing patterns. Areas in need of further research are identified.
