This position paper offers a response to the National Assessment of Educational Progress's (NAEP) 1998 Civics Report Card to the nation. The paper lists the following major points: the NAEP findings are ground for concern, calling for action to remedy a serious deficiency in the education of citizens; failure of students to do well on the NAEP study is a direct consequence of the widespread lack of adequate curricular requirements, teacher preparation, and instruction in civics and government; good programs in civics and government produce good results and are the solution to the shortcomings identified in the NAEP results; and there is a need for a national campaign to insure that effective instruction in civics and government is provided to every student in every school in the nation. (BT)