Resolution #08-01-1

Online Professional Development

Sponsored by: California, Florida, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin Co-Sponsors: Colorado, Maine, Tennessee, Connecticut, Northern Nevada and New York State

BE IT RESOLVED, NCSS will formulate a plan to develop and implement online professional development programs including, but not limited to, workshops and/or sessions from the fall conference, summer leadership institute, lectures and interactive NCSS workshops.

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 89% supported; 10% opposed

BOD Passed

Resolution #08-01-2

Recognition of Members of Congress who Support the Social Studies

Sponsored by: Minnesota, South Dakota, California, and North Dakota Co-Sponsors: Colorado, Northern Nevada, Maine, Wisconsin, New York State, Tennessee, Connecticut and Washington State

BE IT RESOLVED, Members of Congress who actively support NCSS and its goals, and address NCSS leaders and members will be recognized in a timely manner through: a) Letter of appreciation from the President and Executive Director with much gratitude and thanks b) Recognition on the front page of the NCSS website to include available photograph for at least 30 days c) Press release from NCSS to said Congress person’s largest state newspaper(s) and/or newspaper within the Congressional district

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 92% supported; 8% opposed

BOD Passed

Resolution #08-01-3

STEWARDSHIP FOR OUR PLANET: GO GREEN

Sponsored by: Wisconsin, Kansas, and Texas Co-Sponsors: Colorado, Maine, Elementary Education Community, Northern Nevada, Connecticut and Middle States

BE IT RESOLVED, that the NCSS make every effort to reduce, reuse and recycle in its publications, conferences, meetings and daily operations by enacting a formal Green Policy.

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 95% supported; 2% opposed

BOD Passed

_Executive Director, Susan Griffin, noted that NCSS staff has a “green committee” to help NCSS headquarters be more environmentally responsible._

Resolution #08-01-4

Simplified NCSS Legislative Updates

Sponsored by: Texas and ATSS/UFT (New York City) Co-Sponsors: Maine, Northern Nevada, Wisconsin, Connecticut, New York State & Georgia

BE IT RESOLVED, that NCSS distill and simplify into a bulleted format the information and materials contained in the Legislative Updates which are already e-mailed to key state and local council personnel so that it is more manageable and the formal legislative language is reduced and clarified to be more useable in our respective councils.

HOD Defeated Voting Results: 48.5% supported; 47.3% opposed

Resolution #08-01-5

CREATION OF AUTOMATIC MEMBERSHIP LINKING BETWEEN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AND STATE COUNCILS

Sponsored by: Minnesota *8Co-sponsors:** North Dakota, South Dakota, California, Colorado, Maine, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Northern Nevada and Washington State

BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Council for the Social Studies investigate a method of automatically linking national-membership online registration to state-membership registration.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the National Council for the Social Studies would encourage states to institute an automatic national registration, and make recommendations to states for how to best institute this change logistically, with the goal of implementing a standardized, nationwide procedure.

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 83% supported; 14% opposed

BOD Defeated

Board of Director Comments: _Michael Boucher noted that the hope is that NCSS could provide services for state councils similar to how associated group dues are handled. Staff noted that this would be difficult. Another option is to provide links to members’ state councils. Sue Blanchette noted that none of this seems to imply that if you join NCSS you automatically join your state. Tyson noted that this is the case with many organizations. The board was unclear what the resolution would require._

Resolution #08-01-6

Increasing state council relevance beyond annual conference

Sponsored by: Nebraska, Georgia, Connecticut, Maine, and New Mexico Co-sponsors: Northern Nevada, Colorado, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and New York State

BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Council for the Social Studies will add a section in the affiliation paper for councils to highlight creative and innovative member benefit and professional development achievements of the past year.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Council for the Social Studies will compile the aforementioned state and local information and include it (with contact information of the originating council) on the website so that it will be available for all state and local councils to access freely.

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 74% supported; 19% opposed

BOD Passed

Resolution #08-01-7

Creating Standards and Resources for Quality Social Studies Assessments

Sponsored by: Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Tennessee Co-sponsors: Northern Nevada, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania

BE IT RESOLVED, that NCSS convene an assessment task force to identify standards for quality assessment, including test construction and administration, providing website resources to model best practices in assessment development with sample items in various formats,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCSS provide outreach opportunities to local affiliates and their state meetings on assessment development and best practices

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCSS will solicit specific presenters with professional credentials in assessment and encourage submission of proposals on assessment for presentation at the annual conference.

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 86% supported; 11% opposed

BOD Defeated

Board of Director Comments: _The Board noted that this would be difficult year to have a task force. Michael Boucher noted that this is asking NCSS to compile information. Goldberg noted that this is a great idea, but NCSS might not have the resources currently to do this. Beth noted that CSSSO has CSAP—a test bank of questions. Bourne noted that we might ask the assessment community for their advice whether NCSS should provide this link._

Resolution #08-01-8

ALIGNMENT OF AWARDS

Sponsored by: New York State, ATSS/UFT, Tennessee and Middle States Co-Sponsors: Colorado, Maine, Wisconsin, Northern Nevada, Connecticut and New Hampshire

BE IT RESOLVED, that NCSS will collaborate with state and local councils to highlight the criteria and significance of awards, to encourage state and local councils to align award criteria with national award criteria

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 80% supported; 16% opposed

BOD Passed

Board of Director Comments: The board discussed the feasibility of this. Some noted that it was desireable to make it easier for state winners to apply for an NCSS award.

External Relations Director, Ana Post, noted the difficulties in coordinating the several awards and committees.

Resolution #08-02-1 ESTABLISHMENT OF GUIDELINES FOR SOCIAL STUDIES CLUBS

Sponsored by: Alabama, Ohio, South Dakota, Illinois, Arkansas and Missouri Co-Sponsors: Maine, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Northern Nevada and Tennessee

BE IT RESOLVED, NCSS should support the creation of guidelines for the development of social studies clubs in the K-12 schools.

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 82% supported; 16% opposed

BOD

Resolution #08-02-2

Developing connections between reading literacy and social studies

Sponsored by: Nebraska, Georgia, Connecticut, Maine, New Mexico, Alabama, Ohio, South Dakota, Illinois, Arkansas and Missouri

Co-sponsors: Colorado, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Northern Nevada, New York State, Middle States and New Hampshire

BE IT RESOLVED, that NCSS promote the connections between reading literacy and social studies by providing a platform on the NCSS website for teachers to share ideas and information about how they have successfully taught literacy skills through the Social Studies

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCSS provide resources to teachers that facilitate the advancement of integrating social studies with literacy.

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 71% supported; 26% opposed

BOD Passed

Board of Director Comments: _Goldberg noted that NCSS is currently looking at a high school honor society. Probably best to do this first. He also noted that there is a national history club. Tyson asked whether this would help create interest in social studies in the lower grades—middle and elementary. Su Hickenbottom noted that if you aren’t teaching social studies at the school to begin with, a club wouldn’t help. Hickenbottom asked if NCSS should develop guidelines or provide some other sort of support. Karen supported concentrating on the honor society. Nan Jones noted at her school, the clubs started first then honor societies grew out of this._

Resolution #08-02-3

EXPANDING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES

Sponsored by: Wisconsin, Kansas and Texas Co-Sponsor: Maine, Elementary Education Community, New Hampshire, Middle States, New York State, Northern Nevada and Connecticut

BE IT RESOLVED, that NCSS expand the public awareness of the multidisciplinary approach of the social studies.

HOD Passed Resolution Voting Results: 85% supported; 14% opposed

BOD Defeated

Resolution #08-04-1

NCSS TO ENCOURAGE TEACHING ABOUT THE EIGHT MILLENNIUM GOALS OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Sponsored by: Washington State, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nevada, New York State & ATSS/UFT, Connecticut, Maine, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oregon, Kansas and Texas Co-Sponsors: Elementary Education Community

BE IT RESOLVED, NCSS should encourage and support teaching about the United Nations eight Millennium Goals by creating policies that encourage educators to focus on these goals in their instruction and provide links/publications to lessons and information to enhance instruction.

HOD Passed Resolution by Acclamation

BOD Defeated

Board of Director Comments: _Hairfield and Goldberg noted that this asked for creating policies. This is very different from raising awareness—articles in Social Education or website links, etc. Thieman noted that NCSS needs to keep in mind our strategic goals---advocacy, membership increase, etc. This resolution does not seem to fit our priorities._

Resolution #08-05-1 MEMORIAL RESOLUTION TO HONOR JAMES J. SHEEHAN

Sponsored by: Ohio, Great Lakes and Pennsylvania Co-Sponsors: Colorado, Northern Nevada, Maine, Wisconsin and Middle States

BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Council for the Social Studies recognize James J. Sheehan for his years of service to social studies education.

HOD Passed Resolution by acclamation

BOD Passed

Courtesy Resolutions were also passed in recognition of the service to the social studies community of NCSS President Michael Yell and NCSS Conference Committee Chair Stephen Johnson.