Educating the American public about the history and value of the right to trial by jury is the primary goal of the ABOTA Foundation. We have a number of educational programs for teachers and students to preserve the constitutional vision of equal justice for all Americans and to preserve our civil justice system for future generations.

There is a tremendous need youth as an informed citizenry is essential to the preservation of our democratic republic and the fair and equitable administration of justice under the rule of law. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer young people are learning about their rights and responsibilities as citizens. In the overcrowded school day, where achieving student goals on standardized tests in reading and math (such as the FCAT) are top priorities, the teaching of civic values is rapidly disappearing.

In 2010, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) U.S. History tests were administered to 31,200 students in grades 4, 8 and 12 across the nation. The results, reported in The Nation’s Report Card, revealed increased proficiency among 8th graders in their knowledge of American History. However, results for the 12,400 students in grade 12 who took the test remained essentially unchanged from 2006. Only 12% of 12th graders performed at the “Proficient” level and only 1% performed at the “Advanced” level. These are the young people who will soon graduate and be eligible to vote and become active citizens.