Home Newsletters Annual Conference Professional Learning Opportunities Links
 

The MDCSS is dedicated to supporting social studies education in all of its forms in order to promote an educational experience for young people that encourages cultural understanding and a fundamental respect for human dignity, while preparing students for success in the 21st century.

 

Spring 2012 Newsletter

Contact Us
 
MDCSS News:
Links of Interest:
MARYLAND COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL STUDIES CALLS FOR CONFERENCE PROPOSALS

The Maryland Council for Social Studies is now calling for conference presentation proposals for the 2012 MDCSS Fall Conference to be held in Baltimore, Maryland. 

The theme for this year's conference is "Elementary and Secondary Social Studies at the Core!" Those interested in being a part of this exciting conference should submit the proposal form by June 15, 2012.

  

 

 
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY PASSES BILL TO REESTABLISH SOCIAL STUDIES AS ONE OF THE FOUR CORE CONTENT AREAS 
 

This new law will require:

  • social studies to be tested once in middle school through an assessment that includes both multiple choice and constructed response items

  • social studies to be tested once in high school through an assessment that includes both multiple choice and constructed response items.  This test will be a part of the high school assessment program

  • MSDE will survey school systems and publically report on the following issues related to social studies:

    • the amount of time spent on social studies in elementary classrooms

    • the availability of appropriate instructional resources and teaching technology in social studies classrooms

    • the availability of appropriate professional development for social studies teachers

    • the number of secondary social studies classes being taught out of field

 

 

 
The Social Studies are Essential to a Well-Rounded Education
An article by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

 
 
ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT

The Maryland Council for Social Studies urges social studies educators and advocates to write Senator Barbara Mikulski and urge her to be a leader in assuring that language requiring social studies instruction for all elementary, middle and high school students be included in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  We all should be reminded that exclusion from this reauthorization will without a doubt lead to the continued marginalization of social studies in school curriculum across the United States.  When added to the NCLB era, this placement of social studies on the periphery of educational priorities will produce a trend of more than two decades.  This is a circumstance from which the disciple may never fully recover.

 
Click here for a sample letter to the Senator. 
 
Senator Mikulski's Washington address is:
Senator Barbara Mikulski
503 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

 

Specialists Weigh Common Social Studies Standards 
   

 

"HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES: AT THE CORE OF THE COMMON CORE" by MARK J. STOUT, Ph.D

 

MDCSS would like to highlight this article from the Winter 2011-12 Chronicle written by Past President, Mark j. Stout, Ph.D.