CIRCLE in Action

We're focused on the connections between research and practice: on making sure that our work helps to clarify practical questions for educators, communities, and policymakers and has an impact on more equitable youth opportunity and engagement. We strive to ensure that our research is timely and relevant to a broad range of audiences, and we work with local and national partners on numerous campaigns and initiatives to strengthen various aspects of youth civic education and engagement. We believe collaboration is necessary for substantive change to occur and that research informed by the experiences and knowledge of youth and practitioners is most practical.

Explore what we're up to!

Updates and Announcements

Youth Expertise: the 26th Amendment

On the 50th anniversary or the voting age being lowered to 18, young people are sharing their insights and experiences about how to ensure the newest eligible voters are prepared to cast their ballot.

CIRCLE Welcomes New Tisch College Dean

We're excited to begin working with Dayna Cunningham, who has begun her term as Dean of CIRCLE's home: the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. We look forward to learning with and from this experienced civic leader!

Back-to-School Toolkit

CIRCLE is part of the National Action Civics Collaborative, a group of educators, researchers, and practitioners who promote action civics as a way to transform civic education in the U.S. Explore the NACC's back-to-school toolkit to prepare teachers for the upcoming year.

Explore the Toolkit

Upcoming Events

Latest Research

What are we working on? Check out the most recent CIRCLE data and analysis on youth participation in civic life.

Schools Can Help Prepare Young People to Vote Before they Turn 18

This essay is part of CIRCLE's 2021 Youth Expertise Series, in which young people share ideas, based on their experiences, for how to fulfill the promise of the 26th Amendment.

youth expertise

growing voters

Well-Designed Online Courses Help Teachers Master Civics Pedagogies

CIRCLE’s evaluation of the Guardians of Democracy initiative points a way forward for making civics professional development successful, sustainable, and scalable.

professional development

education standards

action civics

Illinois

Local News Helped Young People Get Ready to Vote in 2020

Our research suggests local media was especially helpful to the youngest eligible voters and to youth of color.

Explore More Research

In the Media

There should be a vibrant, data-informed public conversation about youth civic education and engagement: what's working, what's not, and why it's important. Our research, which appears frequently in major media outlets, helps to drive that conversation.

'My youth is a strength': Members of Gen Z launch campaigns for Congress

CNN

Though half of young people ages 18-29 voted in 2020 according to research from Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts (CIRCLE), 60% of that age group cast a ballot for President Joe Biden, while only 36% voted for former President Donald Trump

Getting Out the Student Vote in an Off Year

Inside Higher Ed

“Institutionalizing proactive measures, which are so important for young people, who are moving more frequently and who may need reminders to update their registration because of their mobility rates, are the types of things we’re starting to see are correlated with higher voter turnout,” said CIRCLE's Kelly Beadle.

Losing the generation game: could economic setbacks radicalise graduates?

Financial Times

“The one thing we heard [consistently] from young people was that it was a learning experience in how political leaders’ decisions affect their daily life,” says Abby Kiesa, deputy director of the Centre for Information and Research of Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University.

More CIRCLE Research in the News