Across the country, middle school students step up to microphones to answer questions about the Constitution, defend ideas to improve their communities, and speak about the values of democracy. For many, it is the first time they have shared their voice in public and experienced what it means to take part in civic life.
For the past three years, the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy has served as research partner for the National Civics Bee, a nationwide, nonpartisan initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
"The bee brings civic opportunities to students, teachers, and families nationwide," said Ashley Berner, director of the institute. "It builds up local communities and influences the next generation of citizens."
Working with the foundation team, the institute designs and administers focus groups, surveys, interviews, and online tools to understand the National Civic Bee's relationship to participants' civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions. In 2024, more than 8,000 middle school students from 28 states entered the competition. Each wrote an essay identifying a problem in their community, proposing a solution, and linking the idea to the nation's founding principles and civic virtues. Among those students, 17% advanced to in-person competitions, where they answered civics questions before a panel of judges and defended their ideas in front of a live audience. Ninety percent of state finalists reported increased understanding of the U.S. government, and 84 percent said the bee strengthened their desire to be active citizens. In the 2025 cycle, the number of middle schoolers participating has reached 12,000.
"The National Civics Bee is showing measurable results," said Hilary Crow, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. "Students leave the competition with stronger civic knowledge, improved problem-solving skills, and greater confidence in their ability to make a difference."
Teachers say the competition gives students who may not have other outlets a chance to shine. Parents describe new family conversations about civic life, stronger connections to community, and pride in their children's accomplishments. "It opened our eyes to a bigger world," one parent reflected. "[The bee] showed my son that his ideas matter."
Berner notes that political scientists talk about four key indicators of civic formation: political knowledge, political skills, civil tolerance, and the habit of civic engagement. The Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy's tools and analysis—from social studies knowledge maps to civics-focused impact studies—are designed to elevate the importance of building young people's civic muscles.
Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation also aligns with Johns Hopkins University's focus on democracy and education. As Joseph Reilly, the project's lead research scientist, put it, "This work allows us to understand new ways to help students gain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need for effective citizenship."
The partnership's renewal through December 2027 is set to expand the scope of research, including the bee's relationship to homeschooling families and charter school students. The institute will also work with specific states and school districts to connect participation in the bee and students' academic outcomes.
"Our partnership with the Institute for Education Policy allows us to track this multigenerational influence and use the insights to expand the bee's impact and deepen its effectiveness," said Crow. "With the support of Johns Hopkins research, we can continue creating opportunities that spark curiosity, foster civic pride, and strengthen our democracy."
