In the weeks leading up to a presidential election, it is hard to dismiss the importance of civic education, with campaign speeches, debates and advertisements blaring everywhere. Yet the National Assessment of Education Progress reports that only one-fourth of high school graduates are proficient in topics such as the American political system, principles of democracy, world affairs and the roles of citizens. With support from the U.S. Department of Education and The Pew Charitable Trusts, the nonprofit Center for Civic Education recently developed a set of standards for what students should know and be able to do in the field of civics and government at the end of grades 4, 8 and 12. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education released a report in January arguing that civic education should be reinvigorated and reimagined. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), evidence from national surveys shows the following: "[Young people who have] civic education are more likely than other students to be able to interpret political information correctly, to discuss political issues with peers and adults, to monitor the news and to feel confident about their ability to speak in public. Additionally, students who have experienced interactive civic education show a better ability to clearly express their opinions, have better collaborative group skills and have a better ability to work in culturally diverse teams."