Citizens Academies: Local Governments Building Capacity for Citizen Engagement

Many local governments have begun to offer civic education programs. These programs, known as citizens academies, teach residents about the functions of their local government and offer the promise of developing a more informed and ultimately better engaged citizenry. As a clear example of local government investing in civic capacity building, the emergent practice of citizens academies merits closer examination. This article offers a descriptive analysis of citizens academies in the United States and outlines key research questions going forward.