Toxic civic dialogue? Insurrection? Decline of democracy? America needs quality civic and history education more than ever. NCSS has been a lead supporter and partner in the development of Educating for American Democracy, an initiative that promises a greater emphasis on civic and history education that is powerful, interdisciplinary, and inquiry-based. Moderated by NCSS President, Stefanie Wager, we invite you to join us in a virtual Town Hall to hear directly from a distinguished panel that will present the initiative and discuss actions needed to make the promise of Educating for…

This month, NCSS is preparing its annual call for expertise for members to apply to serve on an Operations Committee. NCSS supports seven current Operations Committees and also appoints interested members to its Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education (FASSE) governing board. NCSS Operations Committees play a vital role in the growth of our association and the health of our profession. Each committee carries out many of the business and organizational functions of our association, based on the goals and values set forth by our Board of Directors. Whether you are a new or veteran…

Join National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and inquirED for a dynamic, two-day virtual exploration of the tools and strategies that educators need to bring inquiry to life in their classrooms and schools. Workshops and sessions will address key inquiry concepts such as generating questions and planning inquiries, facilitating student-led investigations, and designing and implementing informed action projects.  Who Should Attend This event is open to teachers, instructional leaders, and administrators who are interested in how to practice inquiry in elementary social studies…

A look back at former President Trump’s tremendous control over the work of experts and independent agencies can launch an engaging constitutional lesson about Article Two of the Constitution and executive power. 

Students who studied events such as Louisiana’s 1873 Colfax Massacre, North Carolina’s 1898 Wilmington coup, and Florida’s 1920 Ocoee Massacre were well prepared for interpreting events like the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The time is now to advocate for social studies because our democracy depends on it. The NCSS Advocacy Toolkit offers the guidance and tactics to do just that. 

Letter regarding Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College? from the October 2020 issue and responses by the article's authors. 

The assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, by rioters protesting the certification of the 2020 presidential election sent shock waves through the nation. Alysha Butler-Arnold suggests that teachers should take the opportunity to compare this event with occasions in U.S. history when white rioters used violence to contest elections in which the votes of African Americans were decisive. In her view, it is important to examine the bigotry underlying the riot of January 6 so that our country can “come closer to being a true democracy for all its citizens.” A distinctive feature of the…