An Examination of How State Standards Align to the NCSS (National Council for the Social Studies) Vision for Civic Education

• In Event: Roundtable Session 101
  In Roundtable Session: Teaching Civics and Politics in the Social Studies Classroom

Abstract

The National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) has called for Civic Education to be at the center of the educational system (National Council for the Social Studies, 1994). Nine states have chosen to answer this call by requiring a high school class specifically dedicated to citizenship. These states seek to develop civic identity through a holistic approach, melding attitudes, skills and knowledge needed for citizens. The standards for these nine classes have been analyzed and categorized according to Bloom’s Taxonomy to consider how effectively the state documents align to the NCSS vision for Civic Education, and how the states articulate their goals through standards.

Author

• Robert A. Waterson, West Virginia University