An NBC News poll sponsored by More Perfect, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to advancing democracy, found that 80% of Americans think the United States puts too little emphasis on civic education. The survey of 3,000 adults nationwide was conducted May 29 through June 7 via telephone interviews and online surveys sent by text message.
The poll found that 51% of respondents said the country's focus on civic education is "much too little," while an additional 29% said it is "somewhat too little." The sentiment cuts across ideological and generational lines, with rare agreement among groups that often diverge on policy questions: 87% of progressives and 84% of MAGA Republicans both said there is too little educational focus on civics.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates for civic education argue that the findings reflect decades of disinvestment in teaching democratic participation. They point to standardized testing pressures and budget cuts as factors that have pushed civics out of classrooms. "If you don't teach people how democracy works, they can't sustain it," said a spokesperson for the Center for Civic Education, an organization that has long advocated for expanded civic instruction in schools.
Advocates on the left often connect low civic knowledge to broader equity concerns. They argue that communities with fewer resources are less likely to offer robust civics curricula, creating unequal preparation for democratic participation. Some progressive educators have called for mandatory civics courses through high school and increased funding for programs that bring students into contact with local government.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives who support civic education emphasize different priorities. Many argue that existing curricula fail to adequately teach American history and founding principles. "Students need to understand what made America exceptional," said a representative from the Bill of Rights Institute, which develops educational materials for K-12 classrooms. "That means teaching the Constitution as written, not through an ideological lens."
Some conservative commentators have focused on parental rights in education as connected to civic knowledge. They argue that local communities should determine how civics is taught rather than federal or state mandates. Others point to declining confidence in institutions as evidence that traditional civics education has failed and needs reform rather than expansion.
What the Numbers Show
The poll reveals deep skepticism toward American institutions beyond educational concerns. Only 12% of adults said they have confidence in Congress, and just 18% expressed confidence in the federal government. Local government fared slightly better at 27%, while only 11% cited confidence in national news media. Colleges and universities earned confidence from roughly a third of respondents, and public schools received confidence from 30%, a level that has remained relatively unchanged since 2000.
On questions about executive power versus checks and balances, Americans are evenly split: 48% agreed that the country needs strong executive leadership to solve problems directly without input from Congress and the Supreme Court, while 48% said such concentration of power is dangerous. Fifty years ago, a comparable 1976 Gallup poll found 49% favored strong leadership and 44% called it dangerous, suggesting Americans are now slightly more wary of concentrated executive authority.
Half of respondents said the nation's Constitution-based system has stood the test of time and remains sound for future challenges, up 4 points from a 1976 Roper survey. However, 18% said changing times have completely outmoded the current form of government, also up 4 points from that earlier poll.
Despite institutional distrust, 54% of adults said most Americans share the same core values but disagree about politics and issues. Family and freedom were identified as the two most important values across every demographic group surveyed.
The Bottom Line
The poll suggests bipartisan frustration with how civic education is currently delivered in American schools. Both progressive and conservative respondents agreed that more emphasis should be placed on teaching democratic principles, though they likely differ on what content that instruction should include. The findings come as several states have introduced or passed legislation related to civics curriculum in recent years.
The disconnect between low institutional trust and optimism about shared American values may present both a challenge and opportunity for civic educators. Polling suggests Americans believe in democratic principles even as they distrust the institutions meant to uphold them. What happens next could depend on how policymakers, educators, and community leaders respond to the widespread view that something is missing from how Americans learn about their own government.