The History Matters Campaign is a project of the Knowledge Matters Campaign. Just one in three American 8th graders was able to correctly match the three branches of government with their core functions on the most recent national history and civics test. Meanwhile, public trust in our government is near an all-time low, with only 21 percent of adults reporting that federal leaders do the right thing “most of the time.”
But in Howard County, Maryland, there’s hope that fifth graders might one day buck those trends. They spend a full year of social studies learning about the U.S. Constitution and inner workings of the federal government, which culminates in a public simulation of a Congressional hearing. That event even has its own hype video in which 10- and 11-year-old students are “debating authentic issues” and “respectfully disagreeing.”
This school year, my fifth-grade son will participate. As a parent, I’m excited for him to be part of something engaging and memorable. As an educator, I know giving kids the chance to build and apply knowledge can have a major impact on learning. He’ll have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, learn to articulate his ideas with evidence, and develop the civic knowledge and habits that are essential for lifelong civic engagement.
These are not just academic outcomes—they’re democratic ones.
An elementary experience
The fifth-grade Congressional Simulation program started as a grassroots effort, sparked by a former teacher more than two decades ago. In 2003, after attending a training and noting the energetic national “We the People” Congressional Simulation Hearing competition, teacher John Krownapple and former Elementary Social Studies coordinator Corinne Gorzo brought the idea to a single Howard County school. It was a success, word spread, and over time more elementary leaders opted in. Today, every Howard County fifth grader takes part.
One factor in the program’s longevity is the involvement and investment of a range of stakeholders, including teachers and school administrators, parents, business and community leaders, local elected officials, and leaders at the district and county level. Community partners such as legislators and representatives from law enforcement, fire departments, and nonprofits show up year after year, helping students see that the people they learn about in class are real, accessible, and accountable to them.
This deep and sustained community involvement sends students a lasting message that “their learning has value beyond the classroom, and civic education is a shared responsibility,” said Susan Lee, a fifth-grade teacher.
Civics and literacy
That sentiment was echoed by Howard County Public School System graduate James Obasiolu, who served on the board of education as the 2024–25 Student Member and took part in the simulation in elementary school.
“It’s critical that young people—like me when I was in fifth grade, like those fifth graders we saw this year—understand their rights and how the government is meant to function,” he said. “They need to know the responsibilities that come with living in a free society.”
Personally, I’m eager to see what my son learns about citizenship this school year. And I’m energized by the potential for this learning to enhance and accelerate his literacy. Too few American kids get enough time for social studies in the early grades, even though research shows that literacy improves when schools spend more time on social studies rather than spending more time on English Language Arts. I’m hopeful that my son will finish out fifth grade with more knowledge, better literacy, and an understanding of what it takes to be an engaged citizen.
Vaishali Joshi is Senior Director of Partnerships at StandardsWork, sponsors of the Knowledge Matters Campaign.