Align State Standards with Consensus and Best Practice

Challenge

Some state social studies standards that inform teaching of history and civics are outdated, too general, and/or lack content guidance.

Solution

Update state social studies standards in alignment with the Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy (EAD). This approach ensures that standards reflect recent scholarship and content in related fields and utilize inquiry as the primary mode of instruction.

State Policy Options

Adopt social studies standards for elementary, middle, and high school grade bands aligned with the EAD Roadmap.

Ensure that social studies standards are inclusive of the country’s increasingly diverse student body.

Require and provide funding for discipline-specific training among preservice teachers and professional development for in-service teachers in the social studies:

Include preservice methods coursework on core teaching methods aligned with the EAD Pedagogy Companion, including facilitating student inquiries through analysis and investigations; discussion and debates; literacy; use of experiential learning; classroom-based practices of constitutional democracy; project-based learning; and use of formative assessments for purposes of student reflection and instructional improvements.
Consider requiring training on EAD core pedagogical principles for all K–12 teachers.

What is the Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy?

The Educating for American Democracy (EAD) initiative convened a diverse and cross-ideological group of scholars and educators to create a roadmap and guidance in the form of an inquiry framework that states, local school districts, and educators can use to transform teaching of history and civics. The resulting Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy identifies seven major themes as high-priority content areas for all K–12 students.

With its emphasis on inquiry, EAD offers students the opportunity to ask questions, investigate topics, and share their findings. This approach enables learners to examine issues of substance and interest, giving them the essential tools for independent thinking and grappling with our nation’s rich history.