The Maryland Social Studies Task Force has released a report on social studies education in Maryland. Acknowledging the challenges faced by social studies over the past decade, including the unintended marginalization of social studies disciplines caused by NCLB, the social studies task force made nine recommendations in its report that are "intended to reverse social studies’ decline." Key recommendations include establishing standards governing instructional time; administering a statewide social studies assessment in elementary and middle school; increasing social studies course requirements for prospective teachers; and launching a campaign to gain public support for more and better social studies instruction.

• The Task Force Report on Social Studies Education in Maryland: The Challenge and the Imperative (pdf download)
• Related: NCSS Position Statement Social Studies in the Era of No Child Left Behind

Powerful and Authentic Social Studies (PASS) is a professional development program that trains social studies teachers in curriculum design, assessment, and instruction in a standards-based environment. NCSS is offering two opportunities to prepare social studies professionals to implement professional development based on PASS.   --> read more »