An examination of three recent Supreme Court cases and two that are upcoming can generate stimulating classroom debate on issues ranging from Native American interests to Fourth Amendment rights.

NCSS Position Statement Approved by the NCSS Board of DirectorsMarch 2019 As young children engage in their play and daily activities, they show a natural interest in the world around them. Early childhood educators may capitalize on these interests and carefully plan a variety of experiences with social studies in mind, cultivating and extending young children’s diverse skills and abilities to form and voice opinions, identify and solve problems, negotiate roles, perceive diversity and inequality, and recognize the consequences of their…

A Current Events Response by National Council for the Social Studies February 15, 2023 Over the past several weeks, the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) has been monitoring the news coverage and statements related to the decision of the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Articulation not to offer the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course in the state of Florida. NCSS sought to make sense of the timeline and accuracy of statements by individuals and the media before providing an official response. NCSS recognizes that states and districts have the…

This inquiry, which explores the current debate on what should be done with Confederate monuments, engages students in historical, geographic and civic skills.

Engaging students in an examination of historical segregation in Virginia can ignite an important discussion about the ongoing reality of segregation in the United States today.  

National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is pleased to announce the final approval of the NCSS National Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers and the addendum resubmitted for review and adoption in Fall 2017 by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation’s (CAEP) Special Professional Association (SPA) Standards Committee. Social studies education programs seeking national recognition beginning with the Spring 2019 review cycle may use the 2017 standards. Use of the 2017 revised standards will be required for programs submitting initial…

Teaching about LGBTQ+ concepts and history helps counter prejudice and creates a classroom environment that is supportive of all students.

Since joining the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) leadership team in March 2016, I have become intimately aware of the numerous activities of the association. NCSS is a vibrant and active association of passionate volunteers and staff who work tirelessly on behalf of its members, PK-16 social studies students and educators, and the field of social studies education. How is NCSS working for you? Let me share a few examples of what NCSS accomplished in the last month, July 2019. The mission of NCSS is to advocate and build capacity for high-quality social studies by providing…

By Tina L. Heafner, Ph.D. August 5, 2019 Since joining the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) leadership team in March 2016, I have become intimately aware of the numerous activities of the association. NCSS is a vibrant and active association of passionate volunteers and staff who work tirelessly on behalf of its members, PK-16 social studies students and educators, and the field of social studies education. How is NCSS working for you? Let me share a few examples of what NCSS accomplished in the last month, July 2019. The mission of NCSS is to advocate and build capacity for…