Every young person deserves a voice in their democracy.
Civic Spark gives Gen Z students the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take part in civic life, starting in their own communities.
proficient in civics (NAEP, 2022)
branches of government (Annenberg, 2025)
from 9th to 12th grade
Built on a clear purpose.
We started Civic Spark to close Utah's civic education gap. Our programs are practical, non-partisan, and built for students, parents, and educators alike.
Civic Spark gives Gen Z students the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate responsibly in civic life.
A future where every young person understands their community, believes their voice matters, and enters adulthood ready to engage in democracy with curiosity, respect, and confidence.
What guides us.
We ask questions and explore different ideas. Students learn to think critically and disagree with respect.
We teach how government and community work, using facts and real examples so students can form their own opinions.
Every student has a role to play. We show them how their choices and actions shape their community, now and later.
Civic knowledge starts low and stays low.
Civic literacy is falling in school and stays low into adulthood. Utah's civics instruction is inconsistent, and funding gaps between schools make it worse. Civic Spark partners with schools, after-school programs, and youth organizations to close that gap early, before it becomes a lifelong pattern.
of Utah elementary teachers believe civics is not being taught well at their schools (UVU Center for Constitutional Studies)
per-student funding gap between Utah schools, directly impacting access to civics programs
Two tracks, built for Gen Z.
Every activity is hands-on and age-matched, giving students tools they can use right away, at school and in their community.
Students learn how their neighborhoods, schools, and local government work through classroom discussions, letters to local leaders, and a hands-on budget game that teaches real tradeoffs.
Students build public speaking skills, debate local issues, take part in youth council simulations, and present real policy recommendations to school and city leaders.
Help us spark civic life for every Gen Z Utahn.
Donate, partner, or get in touch. Every contribution helps us reach more students, parents, and educators with the civic education they deserve.