Kentucky Student Voices Team is pushing for more civics courses
By Stan Ingold
April 15, 2025 at 6:05 AM EDT
A report released by the Kentucky Student Voices Team says Kentucky is one of only eleven states that does not require students to take a civics course before graduating. This means many Kentucky students are entering the world without knowing what Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines as “the rights and duties of citizens.”
Daniela DiGiacomo is an associate professor of youth development and learning sciences at the University of Kentucky and KSVT’s adult research partner. In an interview with Eastern Standard, she said they can see a difference between urban and rural school teachings.
“We have the majority of the data coming from what's called, geographically, the Urban Triangle, Lexington, Louisville, and northern Kentucky. We did see that students from those areas reported learning about cultures outside of their own and histories outside of their own more than their rural counterparts.”
Chase Colvin is the research coordinator for the Kentucky Student Voice Team and a junior at DuPont Manual High School in Louisville. He said many schools are emphasizing STEM programs.
“That doesn't mean you have to limit or cut back what we teach of civic education, or if you do start to show more civic education being taught and being an access for students and being required, that doesn't mean you have to cut back on STEM, they can work together and they should.”
The Kentucky Student Voice Team filed a lawsuit in January accusing the state government of failing to meet its constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education for every student.
Hear more from Chase Colvin and another member of the Kentucky Student Voices Team later this week on Eastern Standard on WEKU.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
Daniela DiGiacomo is an associate professor of youth development and learning sciences at the University of Kentucky and KSVT’s adult research partner. In an interview with Eastern Standard, she said they can see a difference between urban and rural school teachings.
“We have the majority of the data coming from what's called, geographically, the Urban Triangle, Lexington, Louisville, and northern Kentucky. We did see that students from those areas reported learning about cultures outside of their own and histories outside of their own more than their rural counterparts.”
Chase Colvin is the research coordinator for the Kentucky Student Voice Team and a junior at DuPont Manual High School in Louisville. He said many schools are emphasizing STEM programs.
“That doesn't mean you have to limit or cut back what we teach of civic education, or if you do start to show more civic education being taught and being an access for students and being required, that doesn't mean you have to cut back on STEM, they can work together and they should.”
The Kentucky Student Voice Team filed a lawsuit in January accusing the state government of failing to meet its constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education for every student.
Hear more from Chase Colvin and another member of the Kentucky Student Voices Team later this week on Eastern Standard on WEKU.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.