In this era of education reform, the editors of Making Civics Count believe that now is the time for schools to readdress citizenship education. They argue that, unlike previous generations, students are not learning how to become educated citizens.

"By nearly every measure, Americans are less engaged in their communities and political activity than generations past.” So write the editors of this volume, who survey the current practices and history of citizenship education in the US. They argue that the current period of "creative destruction” - when schools are closing and opening in response to reform mandates - is an ideal time to take an in-depth look at how successful strategies and programmes promote civic education and good citizenship.