What Arizona Students Taught Us About the Future of Civics
At the Cardinals Civics Matters Summit, Arizona students offered a clear reminder of what civics really is.
Not a test.
Not a single class.
And not just politics or government.
Instead, students described civics as a set of experiences that help young people understand who they are, how they show up, and how they contribute to their communities.
At the Summit, students and educators interacted for the first time with The Civic Shift, a new statewide effort coordinated with Valley Leadership, PXU City, and the Institute of Citizens and Scholars, designed to help young people discover, navigate, and grow their civic learning beyond the classroom.
Civics Is Bigger Than Government
When students were asked what “civics” means to them, the most common responses were politics and government. These are often the most visible aspects of civic life.
But close behind were words like community, citizenship, service, justice, equity, voice, and change, pointing to a broader, more action-oriented understanding. Students already see civics as responsibility and engagement; what many lack is a clear path from that understanding to meaningful action.
What Civic Learning Looks Like in Practice
Throughout the Summit, students didn’t just hear about civic competencies, they practiced them.
They learned about civic action from Reyna, CEO of Aliento, who emphasized that progress depends on showing up for the community. They tested their knowledge with the Bar Foundation through interactive trivia that revealed how complex and interconnected democracy truly is.
Students practiced civic skills through the Girl Scouts’ human knot activity, learning that communication, collaboration, and listening matter, and that progress doesn’t come from bulldozing past one another. They reflected on civic values with Sophie, CEO of Read Better Be Better, who illustrated that leadership takes many forms when grounded in authentic values.
Together, these moments reinforced a central idea: civics is built over time, through repeated and varied experiences.
As one student in the working group designing The Civic Shift reflected:
“You don’t get better by going to one practice or playing one game. You get better by trying, messing up, and learning. Civics helped shape who we are today and taught us how to speak up, work in teams, and make change in our communities.”
— Katie Ritchie, Civic Shift Team Member & Honors Student at Arizona State University
The Opportunity Gap Isn’t About Motivation
Arizona has a strong civic sector, yet only about one in three Arizona high school students participates in an out-of-school civics or leadership activity.
This gap does not reflect a lack of interest. It reflects uneven access.
Too often, opportunities depend on whether students know where to look, have the right adult connections, or attend schools with the capacity to promote them. As a result, many young people, particularly those who could benefit most, are left out.
Helping Students Chart Their Civic Path
The Civic Shift was created to address this challenge by focusing on development, not just participation.
Rather than creating a new program, it connects and amplifies existing civic learning opportunities and helps students understand how different experiences contribute to growth across four areas: knowledge, skills, actions, and values.
Another student in the Civic Shift Working Group shared:
“When I was in high school, I would’ve loved to have a platform like this—to learn about all the programs available, how to get involved in them, and the competencies they help you develop.”
— Farhan Barbur, Civic Shift Team Member & Honors Student at Arizona State University
No single program builds all four areas. Civic learning develops across time, contexts, and experiences. The Civic Shift helps students see how those pieces fit together and empowers them to chart a civic path aligned with their interests and values.
The platform is expected to roll out more broadly in the 2026–2027 school year, with the long-term goal of ensuring all Arizona students can access meaningful civic learning and build the knowledge, skills, actions, and values needed for lifelong engagement.
In listening to students, one thing was clear: Arizona’s next generation is ready to engage. The work now is ensuring the system is ready for them.