The National Council for the Social Studies Board of Directors (“Board”) held its Fall Meeting online from August 22-23, 2020. Below is a summary of their recent actions which support the Strategic Plan.

Task Forces, Operations Committees, and Position Statement Reviews

The Board reviewed its 12 current Task Forces to study and recommend future actions in key areas; reviewed 2020-21 charges for Operations Committees (including a new Board Vice-Chair position for each); and plans to update 6 current position statements.

Upcoming Position Statement Reviews

• Developing State and Local Social Studies Standards 
• Human Rights Education: A Necessity for Effective Social and Civic Learning
• Principles for Learning
• Revitalizing Civic Learning in Our Schools 
• Study about Religions in the Social Studies Curriculum 
• Technology Position Statement and Guidelines

Current Task Forces

• C3 Inquiry and Engagement Curriculum Development
• Inquiry-Based Social Studies Education
• Advocacy
• Publications and Other Print and Digital Resources
• Race, Equity, and Inclusion
• Seal of Civic Readiness
• NCSS Teacher Education Standards
• FASSE Restructure
• HOD Restructure
• Micro-credentials
• Social Studies Definition

New Special Projects Approved

NCSS was approved to join two partnerships:

• "Big Tent" Homework Gap Coalition – an informal advocacy coalition of more than 60 national education and related organizations established in February 2020 by a Federal Lobbyist at the National Education Association and the Bernstein Strategy Group. This Coalition addresses the digital divide and technology access among K-12 students.
• Educating All Learners Alliance – in response to widespread school closure, a group of special education advocacy and education innovation organizations has formed the Educating All Learners Alliance and launched EducatingAllLearners.org, a resource hub and online community dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Task Force Reports Accepted

1. Task Force on NCSS Publications and Other Print and Digital Member Resources–The Board approved a third set of recommendations from this Task Force, to guide future publications content and to establish an editorial review board for each NCSS publication. 

2. Task Force on Advocacy– The Board approved a set of recommendations to strengthen NCSS' advocacy initiatives and programs, including the expansion of its online toolkit to include materials developed for the 2020 Summer Leadership Institute.