Beyond fireworks: America 250 and civic renewal | Episode 1024 of The Education Gadfly Show

Stefanie Sanford, president of Civic Ventures at Alithi Consulting and Humanitae Philanthropy Advisors and a trustee of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, joins Mike Petrilli to discuss how America’s 250th anniversary could help renew civic life. They explore why civic formation must extend beyond the classroom, how schools can teach both the achievements and failures of American history, and what young people need in order to develop a sense of civic responsibility in an increasingly polarized and digital society.Then, on the Research Minute, Amber Northern reviews a new study examining gaps in how schools are adopting artificial intelligence, including differences in training, policies, and guidance for students and teachers.Recommended content:Civic Life in the Information Age —Stefanie SanfordCivics, citizenship, and America 250 — Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham InstituteCivic Profile —Hoover InstitutionAmerica at 250: Surveying Change and Continuity on Civic Values — by Karlyn Bowman and Nicole Penn, AEIAI Diffusion Gaps: Unequal Integration of AI Across K-12 Schools —Christopher Campos and John D. Singleton, NBER (2026)Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? We would love to hear them. Send them to [email protected]