Mission Statement

To engage in activities supporting educational work, which shall also include the coordination, promotion, development and maintenance of quality social studies programs at all levels of educational instruction in the State of Colorado.

Welcome to Colorado Council for the Social Studies

President's Messsage

Sara ShackettThanks to the 200-plus attendees of the CCSS annual conference.  It was nice to catch up with old friends, learn about new resources from vendors, and attend invigorating sessions.  I appreciate that you interrupted your regular schedule, spent time creating sub plans, and for some, presented sessions about your specialties.  It was our honor to welcome keynote speaker Hasan Davis as well as NCSS President, Sue Blanchette.  My experience, and that of the other attendees with whom I spoke, was wonderful.  On behalf of the CCSS board, I would like to offer sincerest thanks to the conference co-chairs, Chris Elnicki and Dorsee Johnson-Tucker.  They spent countless hours working on logistics, and the result was another exceptional professional development opportunity.  Within this newsletter, please enjoy a section on session highlights.  Also, I hope you’ll attend next year’s conference in April 2013 and bring some friends!

As the Colorado legislature winds down for the 2012 session, I want to take a moment to update you on a legislative point of interest.  The Long Budget Bill passed on April 27, and it included $6.3 million for assessments.  Specifically, Social Studies assessment development has $2.5 million, Science assessment development has $2.7 million, and there is $1.1 million to refresh CELA and CELA-A.  The new assessments are scheduled to begin in the 2014-15 school year, and grades 4, 7, and 11 will be tested.  The assessments will be summative and will become part of the school accountability process.  While the idea of tests in social studies elicits mixed emotions, it will hopefully reestablish emphasis on our discipline in schools; in 2010, Colorado respondents to the National Study on the State of Social Studies Teachers reported that classroom time devoted to social studies has decreased, according to 64% of elementary teachers, 51% of middle school teachers, and 41% of high school teachers.  Now, according to one CCSS board member’s comment, the real work of creating valuable assessments will begin.

I wish you the best as you finish this school year.

Click here to see pictures from this year's conference.

Click here to open the Spring 2012 CCSS Newsletter

Be sure to SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR's CONFERENCE: APRIL 5, 2013