To suggest that this back-to-school season is like no other is an understatement. Most of us did not imagine that we would set up our classrooms online, and welcome new students directly from our home office or kitchen table. Yet here we are: Back-to-School 2020. A new decade, a new school year, and a whole new way of facilitating education.

I have written over the past few months of how NCSS has transitioned its own work fully online in recent months. Like many of you, our team’s daily work is conducted almost exclusively via Zoom meetings, text chats, and laptop computers. A few of us come into the physical office once a week to check mail and handle routine matters that still rely on physical paper and postage stamps.

I am writing this message today from my physical office desk, and find the near-total absence of sound around me (except for the occasional car or truck passing outside my window or the air-conditioning unit turning on) to make this a very lonely experience. NCSS has always been about people – members, leaders, staff, partners – and our team was concentrated together every day. However, as I type, I’m optimistically reminded that NCSS is no longer anchored to a specific place, but exists digitally, remotely, and everywhere. If you seek a go-to resource for social studies support, open a browser, just type socialstudies.org in your browser, and here we are!

In this back-to-school season, NCSS has structured its membership benefits to provide more value and support as your go-to resource for social studies teaching and learning. We collapsed multiple membership categories to make it easier to find the option that fits your needs. We restructured our membership pricing to reduce costs in some categories and to make more benefits accessible. We also added new benefits that I’m delighted to announce here.

First, all members will also receive our brand-new e-newsletter, Professional Development Monthly (PD Monthly)! This new benefit is designed to provide NCSS members with timely social studies professional development opportunities from NCSS, its Associated Groups, Affiliated Councils, Special Interest Communities, collaborators, and partners. Our first edition releases Wednesday, August 26.

Second, our NCSS Digital Library is expanding to include full access to our On Demand Video Library, ​with dozens of archived NCSS ​webinars.

Third, back-to-school time is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, and we’ll be celebrating you, our valued member, with limited time prizes and discounts starting Monday, August 31.

Next, I am very excited to share that all webinars are now free to most membership groups, increasing the overall value of your membership! We’re also proud to introduce four separate webinar series that will expand the content offerings we can provide. Register for one or more of our webinars now!

• Social Inquiry : These are general interest webinars based on topics suggested by members. The content is selected based on alignment to NCSS standards, focus on C3 Framework and inquiry, and/or strategic priorities or interest. All members are invited to suggest a webinar to present through a semi-annual Call for Proposals. The next one is scheduled for Thursday, 8/27 at 4:00 PM ET (live) and 7:00 PM ET (rebroadcast): “Teaching Elections in Times of Crisis.”
• Alliance Partners : These webinars include online advocacy programs based on content created by NCSS’ current, active organizational partnerships and alliances. The next one is scheduled by the Teaching for Democracy Alliance on Monday, 8/31 @ 7:00 PM ET: “Including Elections and Voting in Your Back-to-School Planning: Why It’s More Crucial This Year, and How Admin Can Do So Effectively.”
• Virtually Connected : These webinars are presented by NCSS’ Associated Groups, Operations Committees, and Special Interest Communities upon request. These online discussions help members in our many leadership groups support each other as we learn how to transition our social studies education programs online. The next one is scheduled by the Canada Community on Thursday, 9/3 @ 1:00 PM ET: “The Indigenous Land You Live On: Going Beyond Territory Acknowledgements.”
• Speaker Spotlight : These webinars include special presentations by NCSS speakers, authors, and other popular social studies public figures. The next one is scheduled with Kenneth C. Davis on Tuesday, 9/8 @ 4:00 PM ET: “Don’t Know Much About the Constitution: Teaching and Talking about the Supreme Law of the Land, the Presidency, and Civic Engagement.”

NCSS comprehensive members will continue to receive a choice of print journal, while our NCSS premium members will receive both journals and one complimentary annual conference registration.

All NCSS members will continue to receive:

• discounts on Annual Conference and professional learning program registration, and books;
• our twice-monthly e-newsletter, The Social Studies Professional, and the NCSS SmartBrief news digest;
• access to our Middle Level Learning e-journal;
• access to over 20 online Special Interest Communities through Connected; and
• competitive rates on insurance, from Professional Liability to Health and Life insurance through our Member Insurance Program administered by the Trust for Insuring Educators.

And in case you have not noticed, we have also launched a brand new website design and experience with you in mind. Now you can easily visit the new NCSS website from your laptop, mobile, or tablet device. Take a peek at the new website today and explore all of the above mentioned resources and more!

Please continue to let us know how we can support you as your go-to social studies one-stop resource. Contact us here. I wish you, your colleagues, and your students a safe and healthy back-to-school.