This collection of essays and references addresses the problem of the disengagement in public affairs and politics by U.S. youth and young adults. The collection brings together evidence of youth disengagement and reports on promising practices for civic education. Several chapters are devoted to research findings on the impact of service and service learning and to programs that connect service to politics and public life. Other chapters explore methods to counter cynicism and lack of information or misinformation about political processes and public officials. Essays in the collection are: (1) "Introduction to Education for Civic Engagement in Democracy" (John J. Patrick); (2) "Political Apathy and Avoidance of News Media among Generations X and Y: America's Continuing Problem" (Stephen Earl Bennett); (3) "Service Learning and Civic Education" (Richard M. Battistoni); (4) "Service Learning and Civic Education in the Schools: What Does Recent Research Tell Us?" (Mary A. Hepburn); (5) "Civic Education as a Craft, Not a Program" (Harry C. Boyte); (6) "Effects of Public Deliberation on High School Students: Bridging the Disconnection between Young People and Public Life" (Iara Peng); (7) "Education for Citizenship: Promising Effects of the 'Kids Voting USA' Curriculum" (Steven Chaffee); (8) "We the People . . . Project Citizen" (Herbert M. Atherton); (9) "Improving Civic Education: The Dirksen Congressional Center" (Frank H. Mackaman; Andrea Schade); (10) "The Public Service Academy" (John G. Stone III); (11) "Why Should the Young Desire a Career in Government or Consider Running for Office?" (Susan A. MacManus); and (12) "Building Trust in Representative Democracy" (Jan Goehring; Karl Kurtz; Alan Rosenthal). Appendixes contain resource guides, the American Political Science Association's articulation statement, and a declaration of the National Alliance for Civic Education. (BT)