With the youth vote expected to be an important factor in the 2020 election cycle, civics teachers are increasingly using current events to help students understand the democratic system -- and to be engaged and informed citizens. Reporter Stephen Sawchuk of Education Week shares insights from his news organization’s “Citizen Z” project, focused on the state of civics education in the U.S., including how it shapes individuals’ perspectives and community engagement beyond voting. From the instructional materials used by schools to examples where students are “living” civic engagement rather than just studying it, Sawchuk shares how journalists can use the Education Week team’s findings as a blueprint to inform their own work on this critical subject.

This episode of EWA Radio originally aired on May 21, 2019.