Social Studies
Education news, analysis, and opinion about social studies and history teaching.
Revising America's Racist Past
How the 'critical race theory' debate is crashing headlong into efforts to update social studies standards.
- Social Studies AP African American Studies: What's Next for the CourseFlorida’s ban of a pilot AP Black history course drew protests, threats of lawsuits, and a lukewarm response from the College Board.Social Studies College Board: No State Has Sway Over Final Version of AP African American StudiesCollege Board effectively told its members that it will not consider input from states or districts when releasing the final version of the pilot Black history class that Florida banned.Social Studies Opinion Teaching the Holocaust Is Daunting—But CriticalIt's not enough to relate the facts; students need to consider the roles of perpetrators and bystanders.Social Studies Opinion Teachers Are First Responders in an Ugly Partisan DivideA middle school teacher argues that an investment from the federal government in civic education can help restore a common sense of purpose.Social Studies Florida's Ban on AP African American Studies, ExplainedFlorida high schoolers will not be able to take an AP Black history course, after the course was banned for allegedly being inaccurate and illegal.Social Studies Bipartisan Civics and History Guidelines Get a Dose of Federal FundingThe money will go toward curating curriculum and providing professional development for teachers.Social Studies Opinion What Did the House Speaker Fight Mean? An Education in Civics Can ExplainTeaching students why the House speaker fight mattered—and how to judge the stakes and claims—is the harder part of civics education.Social Studies Gen Z Has a Passion for Political Activism. Schools Can Nurture ItGen Z continues to have a higher voter turnout than other young generations and schools can foster that civic interest.Social Studies Speaker of the House Vote Has Teachers Discussing Another Extraordinary Political EventNavigating students' questions in real time can help reinforce social studies skills, experts say.Social Studies Video Updating Social Studies Expectations in the ‘Critical Race Theory’ EraAlways a focal point for controversy, updating what students should know in history class became especially charged in late 2021 and 2022.Social Studies Writing Social Studies Standards: A (Dramatic) Year in ReviewThis year proved to be politically fraught for revising state social studies standards. Take a look back at some major developments.Social Studies Whatever Happened With Texas' Anti-CRT Law?Teachers describe a year of working under Texas' law limiting how to teach about racism and slavery.Social Studies What's Really Going on in History Classrooms? A New Project Aims to Find OutThe American Historical Association is researching how secondary schools choose materials and instructional priorities.Social Studies Americans Do Disagree on How History Should Be Taught—But Less Than They ThinkU.S. adults want teachers to focus on the good and the bad of American history. But they disagree on where to place most emphasis.Social Studies Social Studies Leaders Vow Not to Water Down 'Hard History'Speakers at a major conference urged teachers to document how their teaching reflects state standards and themes of democracy and civics.