Abstract

Law 92/2019 introduced civic education in Italian schools of all levels starting from September 1, 2020. This is not a new subject for the Italian school system but its appearance is now significantly innovated. In fact, while also referring to themes and vocabulary that are very familiar in the Italian school language, civic education becomes a curricular subject with a profoundly transversal character, to be carried out for at least 33 teaching hours a year in each school class. Schools are called to integrate their curriculum, to experiment in planning and evaluation, to compete with the joint ownership of teaching. This new subject can become an important opportunity for educational innovation as it allows to overcome the boundaries between school subjects, and to focus on the development of pupils’ soft skills. Students will thereby come to be responsible and active citizens, able to participate fully and consciously in the civic, cultural and social life of communities. Thanks to didactic and organizational autonomy, schools can design their civic education curriculum and characterize their educational offer to respond effectively to the needs of stakeholders.