Participatory digital media--broadly defined as media such as the Internet, social network sites and cell phones that allow users to interact--are ubiquitous among today's youth. Among teens ages 12-17, 95% have access to the Internet; 70% go online daily; 80% use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter; and 77% have cell phones. Many schools, however, have been reluctant to allow students to use digital participatory media for learning during the school day. Because digital media are so pervasive among youth and offer new avenues for civic participation, schools must rethink how they prepare students for active, participatory citizenship. In short, the civic mission of schools has broadened to include the mission of preparing "digital citizens"--those who use digital media to fulfill their civic duty. This issue of "The Progress of Education Reform" includes a closer look at the characteristics of digital natives and provides a summary of research about digital natives' civic engagement habits and the implications of this research for education policy aimed at promoting digital citizenship for today's youth. (Contains 2 tables and 3 endnotes.)