NCSS Social Studies Programs of Excellence Award

Sponsored by:

National Council for the Social Studies

Frequency:

Annual

Award:

• Commemorative gift for the institution
• Teacher certificates
• Annual Conference session presentation
• Publicity

Purpose:

To identify and provide recognition for outstanding social studies programs
currently being implemented in the United States and to encourage the growth
and development of innovative and effective programs in the social studies.

Eligibility:

• A social studies program currently being implemented in the United States
• A program of outstanding quality based on a curriculum framework
  consistent with the NCSS Curriculum Standards for Social Studies or the
  revised NCSS Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers.
• A complete social studies program (not single courses or parts of
  programs), which encourages articulation, balance of content, a variety of
  teaching strategies, and the involvement of teachers,students, and the
  community.

Categories of Entry:

1. District Social Studies Program: district-wide at the elementary school,
   middle school/junior high, senior high, or K-12 levels
2. Elementary School Social Studies Program: K-6; may be a segment of an
   elementary program, e.g., primary K-3, intermediate 3-6.
3. Middle School/Junior High School Social Studies Program: may be 5-7, 6-9,
   6-8, etc.
4. Senior High School Social Studies Program: may be 9-12,10-12, etc.
5. Social Studies Teacher Education Program: may be district staff
   development or preservice training at college/university level.
6. Non-commercial organizations, agencies, or institutions in on going
   association with numbers 1-5 listed above (this includes state or local NCSS
   associations).

Criteria:

1. The Teacher -An exemplary social studies program should involve
   social studies teachers who:
2. Evidence both scholarship and expertise in the curriculum they
   teach.
3. Evidence participation in all aspects of the development of this
   curriculum, including setting goals and objectives as well as program
   development, implementation, evaluation, and revision.
4. Apply sound instructional theory and practice in the implementation
   of the program.
5. The Curriculum An exemplary social studies program should include a
   social studies curriculum that:
   *Is guided by thoughtfully selected as well as clearly stated and
   defined goals and objectives.
6. Is based on sound scholarship from the content areas relative to
   the social studies.
7. Sets high expectations for students and uses a variety of
   systematic and valid measures to evaluate student performance.
8. Relates appropriately to the age, maturity, interests, and needs of
   the students for whom it is designed.
9. Incorporates effective instructional strategies and techniques that
   engage students directly and actively in the learning process both in and out
   of the classroom.
10. Provides valid evidence that the outcome of the program is
    consistent with the stated goals and objectives.
11. Is consistent with the ten thematic strands identified by NCSS
    Curriculum Standards for Social Studies.
12. The Students An exemplary social studies program should engage
    social studies students in:
13. The critical examination of significant content, issues, and events
    from a variety of perspectives.
14. Focused systematic observations, comprehensive decision making, and
    active participation in their school, community, and world.
15. Understanding democratic principles and participation in the
    democratic process.

Before Applying, please check that your state council is participating in this
recognition program.

List of State Program Coordinators [1]

State Level Entry Requirements

Eight sets, one original and seven copies of the following materials (each set
of materials must be bound with labeled subject dividers):

• Program Entry Checklist (form SP-8).
• Cover Page (form SP-6; 2 pages; and professional resume or vita).
• Abstract of program, maximum 75 words (form SP-7).
• Definition of a Program/Criteria Fit - Brief description of how your
  program fits the definition and criteria listed in from SP-2 (maximum 6
  single sided, double spaced, typewritten pages on a 8-1/2 x 11 in. paper).

Is your program:

• A social studies program currently being implemented in the United
  States;
• A program of outstanding quality based on a curriculum framework
  consistent with the NCSS Curriculum Standards for Social Studies or the
  revised NCSS Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers
• A complete social studies program (not single courses or parts of
  programs) which encourages:
  • articulation
  • balance of content
  • a variety of teaching strategies, and
  • the involvement of teachers, students, and the community
  • Program Curriculum--description of goals, objectives, teaching
    strategies, assessments, and program implementation (15 page maximum).
  • Required Letters of Support (at least one letter from each category,
    refer to SP-1)
  • Principal, college dean, or other on-site program supervisor;
  • State Social Studies Curriculum/Program Coordinator (verifying that the
    program is currently being implemented);
  • Classroom Teacher or Teacher Educator (that participates in the program).
  • Other Support Documents (5 document maximum. No document should exceed
    three pages).
  • Letter from student, parent, or community individual or organization;
  • Letter from superintendent, college/university president, or other
    education program administrator;
  • samples of work, teaching portfolios, newspaper articles, information on
    participants, video tape of program implementation (eight copies of video if
    submitted).

State Level Submission Requirements

Eight (8) sets of all the materials listed under "State Level entry
Requirements" (one original and seven copies), each set should be placed in a
three-ring or similar binder with labeled subject dividers, and should be
submitted to your social studies state council's Program of Excellence
coordinator

**Please check with your state council for exact state council application
deadlines

State Level Application Forms

• Sample State Level Letter [2] (from State Council POE Coordinator to
  applicant) Sample State Level Letter [3] [MS Word]
• Form SP-1 State Entry Requirements - Applicant [pdf] [4] (1 page)
• Form SP-2 Description and Criteria [pdf] [5] (1 page)
• Form SP-3 Curriculum Guidelines [pdf] [6] (2 pages)
• SP-4 National Standards Social Studies Teachers [7][pdf]
• SP-5 NCSS Curriculum Standards for Social Studies - The Ten Thematic
  Strands [8][pdf] and Performance Expectations
• Form SP-6 Entry Cover Page [9][pdf] [Form SP-6 [MS Word]]10 [10]
• Form SP-7 Entry Abstract [11] [pdf] [Form SP-7 [MS Word]]12 [12]
• Form SP-8 Program Entry Checklist [13][pdf] [Form SP-8 [MS Word]][14]

FOR STATE COUNCIL POE COORDINATORS

National Nomination Requirements

From the programs submitted at the state level, a social studies state
council will select up to two programs and nominate them for the national
level award. The state council is responsible for completing and including
the following forms/materials in each of the nomination packets:

• Program Entry Checklist (National Level form NP-3A)
• National Entry Cover Page (form NP-4)
• Letter of nomination from the state council president;
• Letter from the State Council's Awards Coordinator - describing the
  state selection process, identifying any other programs considered for
  national nomination, and supporting your program's nomination for the national
  award.
• State Council Justification of Nomination that emphasizes: (a) how
  the program fits the definition of an exemplary program (as stated on SP-2 and
  NP-2); (b) how the program incorporates the Curriculum Guidelines (found
  on SP-3); and (c) identifies those areas where the program excels.
  (Maximum 5, single-sided, double-spaced, typewritten pages).
• Site Visit Form (form NP-5) - program contact information and a list of
  the individuals that served on the site visit team that evaluated this
  program.
• *Supplemental Site Visit Form *(form NP-5A) - completed by each site visit
  team member listed on NP-5. Each of these forms should include:
  1. the site visit team member's name, institution/affiliation, preferred
     mailing address, daytime telephone number, fax number and e-mail address;
  2. comments regarding the site visit; and
  3. site visit team member's signature and site visit date.
• Evaluation Form (form NP-6; 2 pages) - completed by each site visit team
  member.

National Submission Requirements

• Seven (7) sets of all the materials listed under "National Nomination
  Requirements" (one original and six copies), each set of national level
  materials should be labeled with subject dividers and placed in front of each
  set of state level application materials and then placed in a three-ring
  binder or similar binder. For your convenience, a list of state council
  Programs of Excellence Award Coordinators is attached.

Please note that the committee will consider composition, spelling, grammar,
etc. in the evaluation process.

Review the contents of your submission carefully! Application materials that
are incomplete or that do not meet the established award criteria requirements
will not be considered. The selection committee reserves the right to remove
from consideration any application that fails to meet all submission
requirements.

ALL SUBCOMMITTEE AWARD SELECTION DECISION ARE FINAL!

National Level Application Forms (for State Council POE Coordinator Use)

• Form NP-1 State Council Implementation Guidelines [pdf] [14] (2 pages)
• Form NP-2 Description and Criteria [pdf] [15] Form NP-2 [MS Word] [16]
  (1 page)
• Form NP-3 National Entry Requirements and Procedures - State Council
  Awards Coordinator [pdf] [17] (1 page)
• Form NP-3A National Program Entry Checklist [pdf] [18] Form NP-3A [MS
  Word] [19] (1 page)
• Form NP-4 National Entry Cover Page [pdf] [20] Form NP-4 [MS
  Word] [21](1 page)
• Form NP-5 Site Visit Form [pdf] [22] Form NP-5 [MS Word] [23](1 page)
• Form NP-5A Supplemental Site Visit Form [pdf] [24] Form NP-5A [MS
  Word] [25](1 page)
• Form NP-6 Evaluation Form [pdf] [26] Form NP-6 [MS Word] [27](2 pages)

If you are having difficulties accessing the state level (SP) or National
Level (NP) application forms, you may e-mail or mail your name and contact
information specifying what you are requesting to excellence@ncss.org [28]

or by mail to:

Social Studies Programs of Excellence
National Council for the Social Studies
8555 Sixteenth Street, Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Programs selected by state councils must be submitted to NCSS POSTMARK
DEADLINE BY: April 30, 2011

Attachment	Size
2011 POE guidelines.doc [29]	102.5 KB