Social Studies Update

1. Social Studies Update Winter, 2013

2. C3 Framework • The C3 Framework will focus primarily on inquiry and concepts, and will guide — not prescribe — the content necessary for a rigorous social studies program. CCSSO recognizes the critical importance of content to the disciplines within social studies and supports individual state leadership in selecting the appropriate and relevant content.

3. C3 continued • describing discipline-specific structures and tools in the areas of civics, economics, geography, and history, • describing the “habits of mind common in those disciplines,” • and defining an “inquiry arc”: “a set of interlocking and mutually supportive ideas that frame the ways students learn social studies content.”

4. Vision for Career, College, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Inquiry in Social Studies State Standards” • C3 is from a familiar author CCSSO • Focuses on Skills, not content • The C3 Framework has an additional focus on readiness for civic life. • Includes an inquiry arc. • Will be published this summer.

5. The Inquiry Arc has four dimensions. • Developing Questions and Planning Investigations: “Students will develop questions at they investigate societal issues, trends, and events.” • Applying Disciplinary Concepts and Tools: “Students will analyze societal issues, trends, and events by applying concepts and tools from civics, economics, geography, and history.”

6. Inquiry Arc continued… • Gathering, Evaluating, and Using Evidence: “Students will work toward conclusions about societal issues, trends, and events by collecting evidence and evaluating its usefulness in developing causal explanations.” • Working Collaboratively and Communicating Conclusions: “Students will draw on knowledge and skills to work individually and collaboratively to conclude their investigations into societal issues, trends, and events.”

7. Test Review • DOE test forms review is working in August to determine achievement level descriptions and cut scores for the Civics EOC. • Check for continuous flow through the test. • It will not necessarily be in chronological order. • Check to see that there are never too many questions in a row that have the same answer.

8. The EOC cannot be taken to bump up a grade. • Summer retakes of an EOC will be offered. • A student who does well enough in US History to pass a course, but does not pass the EOC cannot take it again in the summer to bump up their grade. • AP students do not have to take the EOC unless it is required by the district.

9. AP US History • AP United States History Course Description Update The College Board has released the revised Curriculum Framework for Advanced Placement United States History.  The changes to this course are significant, moving the organization of the content to seven themes of historical inquiry.  Once this curriculum framework is in place, all questions on the AP U.S. History Exam will measure student understanding of the specified thematic learning objectives.  The format of the exam will also undergo significant change.  The change will be effective beginning with the 2014-15 school year.  The Curriculum Framework may be accessed online at http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/2012advances/12b_5353_AP_US_Hist_CF_WEB_120910.pdf.

10. No EOCA for US History,Course Recovery Students • Those students taking US History for Course Recovery will not have to take the EOCA because they have already taken it once.