Social Studies News and Advocacy
Be a Social Studies Advocate
NCSS Grassroots Action Center
Become part of the NCSS Grassroots Action Center and receive action alerts regarding national and state level issues and legislation.
 Register for the NCSS Action Center
NCSS Advocacy Toolkit
Our toolkit will help you advocate for social studies education in your school, your community, and your nation.
Advocacy Toolkit
Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools
National Council for the Social Studies is pleased to be part of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools--a coalition of 40 organizations committed to improving the quality and quantity of civic learning in American schools. The Campaign's goal is to increase and improve civic learning in grades K-12 by working for policies that implement the recommendations of the Civic Mission of Schools report.
Civic Mission of Schools Website
Legislative Updates and News
1. Budget and Appropriations
-It has been quiet on Capitol Hill. Members of Congress are on their week-long July 4th Recess, but face a daunting number of tasks to complete once they return including: Passing the remaining appropriations bills, healthcare reform hearings, confiming a Supreme Court Justice and other key appointments to the Obama Administration. read more »
1.Budget and Appropriations
-Congress was hard at work this week, making progress on appropriations bills, healthcare reform and climate change legislation. read more »
1. Budget and Appropriations
Appropriators moved into high gear to get the ball rolling on the FY 2010 budget. This sparked much controversy from both sides. read more »
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Important step: 302B allocations (specific instructions on spending parameters for federal agencies) handed down to subcommittees.
-House LHHS allocates $160.65 billion for FY 2010 (5% increase from 2009)
-Senate LHHS allocation forthcoming
-Ranking Republican on House Ed and Labor Committee steps down—replacement to be selected next week read more »
June 17, 2009 the Center on Education Policy held a press conference to present CEP’s latest report on achievement since the enactment of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). read more »
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Cranky tone in Congress after returning from Memorial Day recess; controversial debate centered on healthcare and the President’s supreme court nominee. read more »
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Congress spent week in Memorial Day recess.
-Secretary Duncan set to meet with the Senate, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittees next week.
-Much work to do when they return in order to reach their goal of passing all 12 FY2010 appropriations spending bills before the August recess. read more »
See attached below for your reference a two-page summary from WP of the House Education and Labor Committee’s hearing titled, “The Obama Administration’s Education Agenda,” where Secretary of Education Arne Duncan served as the only witness.
Outline of attachment: read more »
- Committee’s opening statements
- Duncan’s testimony
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Consumed with the $90 billion supplemental spending bill for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, action on the FY 2010 budget was postponed until after the Memorial Day recess. read more »
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Education community digested and began to respond to the release of the Obama Administration’s detailed FY 2010 budget proposal last week (see 5/8 ed report and chart for details)
-Despite overall increased ed spending, notable criticism and concern has emerged around spending freezes and transitions to competitive grant based funding for longtime ed programs. read more »
See attached below a comprehensive chart from Washington Partners on the FY 2010 education funding details that were released by the administration during the first week in May. The chart also includes stimulus funding information.
1. Budget and Appropriations
-The release of the Obama Administration’s detailed FY 2010 budget request was the big news of the week.
-Promising news for education on the heels of stimulus funding, with $58.5 billion requested for education reform programs read more »
NCSS is seeking candidates for Vice-President, and the Board of Directors. Nominees are also needed for the Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education (FASSE) board. You may nominate yourself, or recommend a colleague member who has experience as an affiliate council or associated group leader. Recommendations may be sent to any member of the nominations committee. read more »
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Specter (R-PA) joins the democrats which might mean, with the conclusion of the Minnesota case, that they will reach the magic filibuster proof # of 60 by early summer. read more »
The NCSS International Assembly and the Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education (FASSE) will award up to three International Understanding Grants. The total of the three grants will not exceed $5,000. The purpose of the grants is to support collaborative projects that demonstrate potential to enhance international relationships and global perspectives in social studies education. read more »
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Congress returns to take up the FY 2010 Budget conference read more »
 Sue Blanchette, US. history teacher at Hillcrest High School in Dallas Texas was elected vice-president of NCSS. As vice president, Blanchette is in line to assume the NCSS presidency July 2011.
read more »
Highlights under each section of the attached report include:
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Congress is out of town for the second week of the spring recess
-When they return the focus will shift back to resolving the differences between the FY 2010 House and Senate Budget Resolutions. read more »
Highlights under each section of the attached report include:
1. Budget and Appropriations
-House and Senate passed FY 2010 Budget Resolutions along party lines—this will amount to an 8 percent increase in domestic spending and major gains for education. read more »
Pleased be advised, *the bullets below only provide a rough outline and are not intended as a substitute for the report (attached). NCSS strongly encourages you to read the refined report which will offer a more complete picture of recent events on Capitol Hill from the professionals at Washington Partners. read more »
NCSS is pleased to share the attached brief memo from Washington Partners on the introduction of S.659—a bill to improve the teaching and learning of American history and civics—by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) on Thursday, March 19. read more »
Pleased be advised, *the bullets below only provide a rough outline and are not intended as a substitute for the report (attached). NCSS strongly encourages you to read the refined report which will offer a more complete picture of recent events on Capitol Hill from the professionals at Washington Partners. read more »
Pleased be advised, *the bullets below only provide a rough outline and are not intended as a substitute for the report (attached). NCSS strongly encourages you to read the refined report which will offer a more complete picture of recent events on Capitol Hill from the professionals at Washington Partners. read more »
Visit the Department of Education’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act website (http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html) for information on how funds allocated for education via the stimulus package will be distributed and guidance on how schools can access them.
Highlights under each section of the attached report include:
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Despite the coming of the March 6th deadline (today!) when the continuing resolution on FY 2009 appropriations was set to expire, the Senate could not reach an agreement on the FY 2009 Omnibus appropriations bill that passed in the House last week. read more »
Late last week, leaders in the Oklahoma CSS caught wind of a troubling development for the social studies in their state. The Oklahoma State Senate Committee on Education created a substitute bill calling for the elimination of required social studies assessments for grades 5 and 8 that were included in the bill’s original version. read more »
Highlights under each section of the attached report include:
1. Budget and Appropriations
-The Ed. world anxiously awaits details of how the Ed. department intends to distribute stimulus funds. read more »
See attached a summary from Washington Partners of the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act passed in the House 2/25. read more »
Side-by-Side Comparative Chart: first House bill / Senate bill / final Conference Agreement
To get a clearer sense of specific changes in recent weeks, please also see the attached side-by-side comparison of provisions related to education in: read more »
- The original proposal passed by the House
- The package that passed in the Senate after the Nelson-Collins cuts
The Forum for Education and Democracy is launching a national web-based campaign that challenges all Americans to transform the optimism of the election season into the promise of collective action to improve public education. A short web film, an homage to the “Yes We Can” campaign film, sets in motion a national petition drive in which all signers commit to work with President Obama to honor four promises that must be fulfilled if we are serious about supporting young people and public schools: 1) Every child deserves a 21st Century education; 2) Every community deserves an equal chance; 3) Every child deserves a well-supported teacher; and 4) Every child deserves high-quality health care. To encourage action on the local level, the Forum provides a list of easy steps people can undertake individually and at the community level in support of each promise.
Read more, view the petition and film: http://www.willwereally.com/ read more »
I. Stimulus Update Memo
Please see attached a memo from Washington Partners providing an update on the efforts of the Congress to put together and approve an economic stimulus package since Friday 2/6. The Senate was hard at work this weekend putting together a compromise bill, brokered by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Susan Collins (R-ME), that may win passage early this week. read more »
Be sure to make use of the bookmarks at the beginning of the attached report to help navigate your areas of interest. Highlights under each section include:
1. Budget and Appropriations
-Contentious debate in Senate over economic stimulus
-Hopes for final passage on Thursday fall through and debate will continue read more »
NCSS was recently informed by officers in the Massachusetts CSS of plans to eliminate or delay required History and Social Science Exams for 10th graders in their state. read more »
This week, NCSS President Mike Yell and Executive Director Susan Griffin voiced the social studies agenda in the attached “Welcome Letter” that went out to every member of the new Congress. read more »
I. Education Report for January 23rd from Washington Partners.
Be sure to make use of the bookmarks at the beginning of the attached report to help navigate your areas of interest. Highlights under each section include: read more »
- Budget and Appropriations
-Despite tone of inauguration, struggle for consensus on stimulus package consumes Congress
Please see attached the Education Report for January 9th from Washington Partners.
Be sure to make use of the bookmarks at the beginning of the attached report to help navigate your areas of interest. Highlights under each section include: read more »
- Budget and Appropriations
Please find attached a four page summary from Washington Partners of Arne Duncan’s confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to be the next U.S. Secretary of Education.
Discussion topics included:
-Full Funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
-Duncan’s three major goals as Sec. of Education read more »
Please see attached an informative memo from Washington Partners that looks ahead to the work of the 111th Congress, focusing on education-related legislation that may be taken up and likely key education policy issues that may be of interest to NCSS.
See bullets below for the structure and highlights of the report:
I. General Overview
-Rundown of the makeup of the new Congress read more »
Please see the attached background sketch from Washington Partners of President-elect Obama’s selection for Secretary of Education—the current Superintendent of Chicago public schools Arne Duncan.
Please see attached the Education Report for December 12th from Washington Partners.
Be sure to make use of the bookmarks at the beginning of the attached report to help navigate your areas of interest. Highlights under each section include: read more »
- Budget and Appropriations
Please see attached below the Education Report for December 5th from Washington Partners. Be sure to make use of the bookmarks at the beginning of the attached report to help navigate your areas of interest. Highlights under each section include:
- Budget and Appropriations
-uncertainty over President-Elect’s selection of the new Secretary of Education read more »
NCSS recently sent the attached letter to the chairmen of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee encouraging them, as they work toward finalizing the FY 2009 budget, to adequately invest in programs of interest and importance to social studies educators.
Please see the attached Legislative Watch List, a biweekly publication from Washington Partners that gives an overview of of legislation relating to education currently being considered by Congress. read more »
Greetings to All! We are back from Houston where we had another tremendous conference and back from Thanksgiving where we enjoyed family, friends, and food.
Just wanted you to know that Mike Yell and I sent the following letter to the Obama Transition Team to introduce them to National Council for the Social Studies and a few of our priorities. read more »
Washington Partners has provided us with another extremely useful resource for looking ahead to advocacy in the next Congress. Be sure to take a minute to scan through the brief bios of newly elected members of Congress in the attached report.
These background summaries place particular emphasis on: read more »
their stance on education
See attached reports from Washington Partners on the results of the elections as they pertain to the prospects for education in the next congress and administration: read more »
- A summary that outlines changes Congress, provides a quick overview of Obama’s plans for education and includes a chart of important races in the House and Senate.
Attached below is a Review of the Legislative Achievements and Efforts of the 110th Congress as they relate to the interests and concerns of NCSS courtesy of Washington Partners. The report is divided into two parts:
I. Education Legislation enacted by the 110th Congress, including: read more »
Please see the attached Education Report for October 17, courtesy of Washington Partners.
Highlights to examine include: read more »
- Appropriations— the economic crisis continues to be Congress’ main focus
Please see below letters sent to each presidential candidate expressing NCSS’ views, priorities and concerns on issues that will be considered by the next administration.
We look forward to working with the new administration and will continue to advocate for the interests and concerns of NCSS members after the election.
Please see the Education Report for October 10, courtesy of Washington Partners below. Highlightsinclude: read more »
- Appropriations—Looking ahead to negotiations over education funding for Fiscal Year 2009
-Next stage: conference committee meetings to come up with a comprehensive spending plan
-When can we expect this to be announced?
Of potential interest in this week’s Education Watch List from Washington Partners:
I. Emphasis on after school programs and expanded learning opportunities read more »
- S.CON.RES. 104— A joint resolution supporting “Lights on After School”
- H.R. 7127— A bill authorizing the ED secretary to create grants to put the Total Learning Curriculum into use.
Please see the attached letter below sent to the Department of Ed. that expresses NCSS’ perspective on plans for the the implementation of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The letter places a particular emphasis on programs in Title II that focus on enhancing teacher preparation. read more »
See the Education Report for October 3, 2008, courtesy of Washington Parters.
Highlights include: read more »
- Appropriations—Congress consumed with the bail out crisis.
-President signs continuing resolution (CR) to extend current funding through March
Officers and members of the California CSS convened, in the company of State Assemblyman Gene Mullin, to voice their concerns about the narrowing of the curriculum and to advocate for the inclusion of the social studies during the annual CACSS conference in the spring. read more »
See the attached Education Report for September 26, 2008, courtesy of Washington Parters.
Highlights to examine include: read more »
- Appropriations Crisis—Congress scrambles to pass a continuing resolution (CR) so that federal funding can be extended
-What will funding of education in CR be?
The Legislative Watch List courtesy of Washington Partners gives an overview of current legislation in the Congress relating to education.
The laundry list is particularly long this week. The continuing resolution (CR) that would extend government appropriations into the spring is, of course, at the top of the list. read more »
Please see the Education Report for September 19, 2008, below courtesy of Washington Parters for insight into the current public policy debate surrounding education and an update on the current situation in Congress. read more »
See the attached Education Report for September 12, 2008, courtesy of Washington Parters for insight into the current public policy debate relating to education and into what the Congress has been up to since returning from their six week recess. read more »
Below is a report from Washington Partners on an event held by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to discuss the role of Assessments in American education, an issue of great interest to the social studies agenda. Speakers who attended and shared their views included U.S. read more »
NCSS was recently contacted by the National Geographic Society regarding the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act, HR 1228. This is a bill that NCSS has promoted on Capitol Hill and for which NCSS has helped secure many co-sponsors. The act would ensure federal support for geography comparable to the eight other core academic subjects identified by the No Child Left Behind Act. read more »
NCSS was recently contacted by the National Geographic Society regarding the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act, HR 1228. This is a bill that NCSS has promoted on Capitol Hill and for which NCSS has helped secure many co-sponsors. The act would ensure federal support for geography comparable to the eight other core academic subjects identified by the No Child Left Behind Act. read more »
As noted in recent Education Reports, the 110th Congress passed what will probably end up being one of the only major pieces of education legislation in its tenure when it approved the Higher Education Opportunity Act in late July. The 1,200 page Bill has a long list of implications on many different aspects of Higher Education. read more »
This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education. Be sure to direct your attention to the following “Bills to Watch” of particular interest to NCSS in the attached report: read more »
- The Strengthening Communities Through Education and Integration Act (S. 3334):
The Education Report, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an executive summary
of public policy issues affecting American education. After selecting the attachment, you may navigate the report based on the areas of interest below: read more »
- Budget and Appropriations
- In Brief
- New Publications
- In the News
- About WPLLC
 The Association of Educational Publishers (also known as EdPress) has named “From Banished to Brother Outsider, Miss Navajo to An Inconvenient Truth: Documentary Films as Perspective-Laden Narratives” best article in the learned category published in an educational periodical. read more »
Thanks to the generosity of ABC-CLIO and the University of South Florida College of Education, NCSS is pleased to announce that podcasts of selected keynote and featured sessions from the 2007 NCSS Annual Conference are available for download from iTunes U. read more »
The NCSS Standards Revision Task Force is continuing it’s work on updating the NCSS Curriculum Standards for Social Studies and needs your input. Please see http://communities.ncss.org/standardsrevision for an update on the work of the task force, drafts of updates, and to provide feedback and comments to the task force.
NCSS President Gayle Thieman and Past President Peggy Altoff articulate the devastating impact of NCLB on social studies teaching in an article published in the District Administration March 2008 issue. read more »
<
p>Contact your Congressional Representatives to request that funding for NAEP assessments assures that those related to NCLB-designated core social studies content areas are administered according to read more »
Today’s Social Studies…Creating Effective Citizens.
That’s what we do, and our task is essential to maintaining an effective democracy. However, not everyone understands this. When this message is understood, students will benefit, schools will have greater support, and social studies teachers and other educators will find their job more rewarding. read more »
|
