Young Americans Are More Optimistic About Civic Engagement Than the Country at Large

The report summarizes the Chamber Foundation's 2026 Civic and Economic Literacy Survey and College Board research. It reports 44% of respondents missed a basic civic-literacy test and 53% missed a basic economic-literacy test, while more than nine in ten adults and teens say civic understanding and participation matter.

College Board data include nearly 47,000 high-school graduates and about 17,500 follow-up respondents as college freshmen. The findings suggest interest and optimism can coexist with knowledge gaps and few practical routes into civic life.