Teachers to Integrate Election Processes Into Civics Lessons
Educators are utilizing the November 3, 2026, midterm elections to boost student engagement and critical thinking skills.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Teachers across the United States are incorporating the November 3, 2026, midterm elections into their instruction to foster democratic engagement. This initiative aims to address declining civics performance and prepare students for future participation in the political process.
Why it matters
By integrating election cycles into the classroom, educators hope to improve critical thinking and bridge the gap between academic theory and active civic participation. These lessons are designed to provide students with the skills necessary to navigate political environments and understand candidate platforms.
Intended participation among 14- to 22-year-olds has reached 62% for the 2026 elections, a 15 percentage-point increase over 2024. Meanwhile, registration remains below 30% for 18-year-olds in midterms and under 50% for presidential contests.
The players
Kitley Intermediate School
This educational institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana, is one of the sites where teachers are incorporating election instruction into their curriculum.
Lincoln-Way East High School
Located in Frankfort, Illinois, this school is participating in the effort to engage students through election-based civics lessons.
Lab School for Collaborative Studies
This school based in New York City is utilizing midterm election processes to teach students about candidates and political predictions.
The details
Educators are assigning students tasks such as researching political races, making predictions, and presenting candidate positions to their peers without disclosing party affiliations. These classroom exercises, including mock elections, are currently being implemented in schools ranging from the Lab School for Collaborative Studies in New York City to classrooms in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois.
Timeline
1998 saw the first administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress civics assessment.
2018 served as the baseline year for the observed decline in student civics scores.
2022 marked a 2-point decline in scores for eighth graders on the national civics assessment.
2024 saw a 47% participation rate among young voters.
November 3, 2026, is the date for the upcoming midterm elections.
Political Context
Opponents of increased classroom focus on elections often cite concerns that such instruction could lead to partisan bias within schools. Critics argue that maintaining nonpartisan neutrality is difficult and that political education should remain the responsibility of families and local community groups.
Students may see increased emphasis on political research in their daily coursework as teachers prioritize these nonpartisan election activities. Taxpayers and families can expect these school-led initiatives to be a recurring part of the curriculum during future midterm and presidential election years.
The takeaway
Educators are leveraging upcoming elections to turn abstract political concepts into tangible research projects for students. Families can support this by encouraging students to track candidate positions independently and discuss the mechanics of the voting process at home.
What happens next
The National Assessment of Educational Progress civics exam will be administered again in 2028 to track student performance following these instructional changes.
Further reading
For more on how schools promote student participation, visit the Civic Engagement section.
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