America’s 250th anniversary is more than a celebration of our past—it’s a call to shape our future. Across the country, too many students graduate without a meaningful understanding of our nation’s history, founding principles, or constitutional system. ACTA is leading a nationwide effort to restore civic literacy, strengthen higher education, and renew appreciation for the American experiment.
30+ Years
Leading higher education reform.
23,000 Trustees
Working with ACTA to strengthen colleges and universities.
50+ National Leaders
Endorsed A Broadside for the Nation.
America’s next 250 years will be shaped in today’s classrooms. The freedoms we celebrate today depend on citizens who understand and cherish them tomorrow. Join the Liberty & Learning Campaign and help ensure the next generation understands the principles that have sustained our Republic for 250 years.
“We must replace cynicism with informed patriotism. It is time for faculty, administrators, trustees, donors, and lawmakers to recognize that this 250th anniversary year is the long overdue moment to make the necessary curricular reforms to reinstitute the American history and government requirement. There is no time left for excuses. It is time for action.” —Michael Poliakoff, ACTA President
Visit our Civic Education Initiative web page to learn more about ACTA’s civic education work.
A Broadside for the Nation
Preparing College Students for Informed Citizenship
In this Broadside for the Nation, we explain in detail why American higher education must restore this foundational requirement for college graduates to know the American story, what such a course might include, and, crucially, how to make this vision a reality.
The Story of Our Nation
How Well Do College Students Know America?
In the spring of 2026, ACTA surveyed over 3,000 college and university students on basic knowledge of American history and government. Our data shows that far too many students are earning college degrees without a rudimentary knowledge of the nation’s history and civic structure.
Losing America’s Memory 2.0
A Civic Literacy Assessment of College Students
In June 2024, ACTA surveyed over 3,000 college and university students on basic knowledge of American history and government. This survey builds upon ACTA’s decades-long analysis of civic literacy trends, including our groundbreaking original report, Losing America’s Memory: Historical Illiteracy in the 21st Century.
WHO WE ARE
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
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