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More students know their history, civics

WASHINGTON -- More students are learning the basics when it comes to history and civics, but they aren't rising to the next level, national tests show.

The history and civics tests were given to students nationwide in the fourth, eighth and 12th grades last year, and the results were released Wednesday...

The Washington-based Center on Education Policy reported last year that a third of elementary school districts reported cutting back on time for social studies, which includes history and civics. However, a recent government study showed increases in social studies credits being earned by high schoolers...

More students would be tested under legislation introduced Wednesday by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., chairman of the education committee, and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., a former education secretary. They want state-by-state results for history and civics, much like is done with reading and math.

Related Links

  • Test results, Nation's Report Card
  • Sampling of what students know about history
  • National Coalition for History: News Story
  • US students aren't history whizzes, but they're improving (CSM)
  • Students Gain Only Marginally on Test of U.S. History (NYT)
  • Martin A. Davis, Jr.: What the new history report card tells us
  • Read entire article at AP