Why We Do This Work

The Power of Social Studies​

Social studies plays a crucial role in preparing students for the modern workforce by providing them with a well-rounded understanding of the world, society, and human interactions. This includes building valuable skills — critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, cultural competence, civic engagement, economic literacy, historical context, and ethical decision-making — that will help individuals adapt, collaborate, and thrive in a dynamic and interconnected world. Research has also shown the effectiveness of social studies education on key student outcomes:

  • Social Studies Has Significant Impact on Literacy Gains

    Social Studies has a greater impact on literacy gains than any other subject including additional English Language Arts, as it builds systematic knowledge and vocabulary. The impact is even more pronounced for students experiencing poverty and with language-learning needs.

  • Identity-Centered Content Increases Multiple Student Outcomes

    A program of curriculum and instruction that centers students’ identities by design has been shown to lead to​:

  • Culturally Relevant & Sustaining Content Increases Engagement

    Culturally relevant and sustaining social studies benefits students by privileging their knowledge and increases engagement through authenticity.

Current
Challenges​

DEFINING QUALITY

While there are broad efforts to rethink social studies across the US, the field lacks a clear definition of high quality, culturally responsive, and culturally sustaining content.

POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

Social studies curricula have been targeted by political and legislative efforts in several states, prompting both confusion and uneasiness among local educators and system leaders.

DEMAND

A growing number of educators, schools, and school systems are seeking culturally responsive and sustaining content and teacher supports, but they often lack the capacity or expertise to find and implement high-quality materials.

CONTENT

Many organizations – primarily led by content creators of color – are providing quality content and support for schools, but their work is not amplified.

Ultimately, the connectivity between educators and schools seeking culturally responsive & sustaining materials and organizations that produce this content is fragmented.

The Social Studies Accelerator aims to address these gaps and help increase connectivity across the social studies ecosystem by centering these four focus areas and short-term outcomes: ​

ADVOCACY & MESSAGING

Helping leaders shift the narrative about the importance of culturally responsive and sustaining social studies 

How?

By bringing together social studies experts and educators to develop a shared definition of high-quality, culturally sustaining social studies​

By ensuring solutions providers and educators are connected to resources and support that help them communicate to a wide range of audiences in today’s climate about the importance of culturally sustaining social studies

CONTENT & CURRICULUM

Amplifying diverse creators and content to reach more schools and students 

How?

By helping solutions providers ensure their content and materials are culturally sustaining​

By helping solutions providers navigate education markets and expand reach​

​By amplifying high-quality solutions providers and their content across many channels and education networks​

​By working with partners to connect solutions providers directly to school systems and other enablers or resources in the PK-12 social studies ecosystem

IMPLEMENTATION

Accelerating high-quality content access and adoption within the PK-12 ecosystem 

How?

By ensuring school systems and educators can identify and implement high-quality, engaging, and grade-level appropriate culturally responsive curriculum ​

By working with key partners in the field to build capacity within school systems to effectively implement high-quality social studies

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

​Equipping educators with professional learning to support implementation 

How?

By supporting and amplifying the work of solutions providers who focus on teacher professional learning supports​

By partnering with organizations focused on educator PD and building their capacity around social studies to further support teachers and schools beyond STEM and ELA subject areas