Legislative priorities

The Iowa Legislature, the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Area Education Agencies, and local Iowa school districts all must work together to ensure that a high-quality social studies education is provided to all students. With the development of new state standards for the social studies and the implementation of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the ICSS, who represents social studies educators from throughout the state, call on policymakers and stakeholders to ensure that social studies education is included in a well-rounded education that prepares students for college and career readiness as engaged citizens.

The social studies should be given the same priority as other core content areas.

Positions

The social studies should be given the same priority as other core content areas. 

• ICSS calls for additional support in teaching social studies courses at all grade levels, K-12.

• ICSS calls for teaching social studies content knowledge at all grade levels. 

ICSS calls for access to professional development for social studies content and pedagogy for all social studies teachers.

• ICSS calls for accountability for incorporating social studies education at all grade levels. Annual district reports should require an accounting of social studies instruction.

• ICSS calls for continued appropriate teacher preparation and opposes reductions in required college credit hours that endorse non-history government social studies courses with only two or three courses as preparation.

Justification

Studies show that better content knowledge has a direct correlation to reading literacy. This is especially important at the elementary level. Students who learn social studies content are significantly better readers. In short, readers need background knowledge to understand what they read. However, given the limited time allocated to social studies, students have little opportunity to develop rigorous content knowledge and a deep understanding of texts. More dedicated time must be focused on social studies content and literacy skills throughout their education. A solid curriculum must be intentional and efficient, built around deep background knowledge (for the full report, see Wattenberg).

Social studies education creates informed and engaged citizens, both critical for competent and responsible citizenry.  According to the NAEP Report Card, in 2022, the average civic score for eighth graders decreased by two points compared to 2018. Scores continued to decline for lower and middle-performing students. The study found that lower-performing students are much less likely to either pay attention to the political process and government or participate in the political process and government. In 2022, only twenty percent of students were found to be proficient, while thirty-one percent were below basic. (For a complete review of the report, see NAEP Report Card, 2022 Civics)

Average Scores were no better on the 2022 U.S. History Assessment. Eighth-grade students saw a decline of five points. This is not significantly different from the first assessment given in 1994. (see NAEP Report Card 2022, U.S. History)

Additional reasons for concern were found in Annenberg Public Policy Center surveys from national samples of the U.S. population in the past decade. In 2024, findings show many American adults do not possess knowledge about civics:

• Only about two-thirds of Americans (65%) can name all three branches of government.

• Asked what rights the First Amendment guarantees, nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%) name freedom of speech. Fewer people recall the other four rights: the second most often cited, freedom of religion, is named by just 39%.

• A little over half of U.S. adults know which party controls the Senate and which controls the House of Representatives.

The Iowa Department of Education study Social Studies: A Call to Action found that Iowa elementary teachers spend only about one hundred minutes weekly on social studies education, or about five percent of the instructional week. They are required to spend ninety minutes per day on literacy.  It was also found that fifty-nine percent of Iowa social studies teachers reported no access to professional learning in social studies in the last two years; this has not improved since this study. [Social Studies: A Call to Action]

According to the guidance regarding SSAE grants and civic instruction: “An LEA may use funds to promote the development, implementation, and strengthening of instructional programs in civics. Civics is generally understood to mean the content of what citizens should know about politics and government, including the foundations of the American political system. Schools can provide civics instruction through both formal and informal education beginning in the early years of the education process.” (ESEA section 4104(b)(3)(A)(i)(V))

Social studies education teaches twenty-first-century skills.

• Social studies education prepares students to access and understand the tools of democracy, engage in public debate, learn and apply critical thinking, understand the past and connections between different regions and cultures, and read beyond comprehension to the evaluation, synthesis, analysis, and interpretation levels.

• Social studies education prepares students for college. It combines the disciplinary components of civics, geography, economics, and history.

• Social studies education prepares students for careers. Social studies education provides a critical foundation of attitudes, knowledge, and skills most adaptable to new circumstances. Employers today want more emphasis on critical thinking, complex problem solving, written and oral communications, cultural understanding, and applied knowledge in a real-world setting. Employers are also looking to hire those who demonstrate ethical judgment and integrity, intercultural skills, and the capacity for continuing education.

Creating a Partnership

The Iowa Council for the Social Studies would like to be a resource and partner with the Iowa Legislature in improving social studies education. For more information on our priorities, or to discuss any social studies related matter, please contact:

Jack Vanderflught
Iowa Council for the Social Studies
Government Liaison and Advocacy Director
jrv@mchsi.com
641-202-1004

www.iowasocialstudies.org

Mission Statement

ICSS promotes, supports and provides leadership to improve social studies education.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to be the premier organization of Iowa Social Studies professionals, ensuring that all students have a high-quality Social Studies education.