New State Guidance to improve the rigor of instruction in Civics, Economics, Geography, and History: College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards

New State Guidance to improve the rigor of instruction in
Civics, Economics, Geography, and History
 
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework
for Social Studies State Standards
 
For More Information Contact:
Susan Griffin 301-850-7451 or sgriffin@ncss.org
Mavis Baah 202-628-1280 or mbaah@washingtonmedia.com
 
WASHINGTON, Sept 17, 2013 – The National Council for the Social Studies has released a guide developed by over twenty states and fifteen social studies content organizations to help states strengthen their social studies standards. The C3 Framework emphasizes the acquisition and application of knowledge to prepare students for college, career, and civic life. 
 
“Many state standards in social studies are overwhelmed with lists of dates, places and names to memorize – information students quickly forget,” Susan Griffin, Executive Director of National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), said today as the organization released College, Career and Civic Life (C3) Framework. Griffin added, “The C3 Framework is a powerful tool that will assist states in establishing fewer, higher, and clearer standards for instruction in civics, economics, geography, and history, from kindergarten through high school.  The document emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and inquiry – skills that are critical to becoming active and engaged citizens.”
 
The C3 Framework offers a new vision to enhance state standards in civics, economics, geography, and history at the K-12 levels, with additional guidance for high school anthropology, psychology, and sociology.  C3 is intended to be implemented by teachers, school districts, and curriculum writers to strengthen their social studies programs to a) enhance the rigor of the individual disciplines, b) build critical thinking, problem solving, and participatory skills vital to engaged citizenship, and c) make appropriate connections to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies.
 
“The C3 Framework respects and recognizes the states’ rights to devise their own standards,” said Ted McConnell, Executive Director of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. “C3 provides guidance on how to do this.” 
 
Maryland and Kentucky are already using the C3 Framework to update their social studies standards and others are expected to follow.
 
Over 3,000 social studies professionals, university scholars, and others reviewed and commented on the C-3 Framework throughout the development process that took over three years.
 
The full document is available free of charge at:  www.socialstudies.org/C3
 
 
About National Council for the Social Studies:
National Council for the Social Studies was founded in 1921. Its members include K-16 classroom teachers, curriculum supervisors and specialists, curriculum writers and designers, and teacher educators. NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for teachers of civics, economics, geography, history, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology and law-related education. Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. For more information, visit: www.socialstudies.org 
 
For More Information please contact: Susan Griffin, Executive Director, National Council for the Social Studies: sgriffin@ncss.org or Kathy Swan, C3 Lead Writer and Project Director: k.swan@uky.edu .
 
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Contact Information

Susan Griffin

Executive Director

NCSS

sgriffin@ncss.org