Contact your Congressional Representatives to request that funding for NAEP assessments assures that those related to NCLB-designated core social studies content areas are administered according to the original schedule.

NAGB has eliminated:

• US History and Civics in Grades 4 in 2010 and 2014 from the NAEP assessment schedule;
• postponed Geography from 2010 to 2014; and
• eliminated Economics and World History scheduled for 2012

Changes in planned testing and administration of the NAEP require significant lead time to accommodate the lengthy process of crafting test questions, selecting representative samples of schools and students, and other preparations, including a decision on whether to proceed with the geography test by February 2008.

Members of Congress have recognized the need for expanded testing and are considering a proposal to administer tests in more states with larger sample sizes in US History and Civics to provide comparative data similar to other NAEP assessed subjects.

Research has well established the impact of assessment on instructional time, including the documented marginalization of social studies teaching and learning in our Nation's classrooms and schools.

Sample Letter to Congress

Tips When Corresponding with your Members of Congress

National Council for the Social Studies has selected the winners of its Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year Awards.

The NCSS Social Studies Teachers of the Year awards are presented annually to teachers who demonstrate exceptional abilities: developing or using instructional materials creatively and effectively; incorporating innovative instructional strategies; demonstrating the ability to foster a spirit of enquiry; and encouraging the development of democratic beliefs, values, and skills needed to become effective citizens. One award each is presented annually to a middle level teacher and an elementary teacher. Two secondary teachers are selected annually for the award.

The winners for 2007 are:

Elementary co-sponsored by Farmers Insurance.
Kimberly Heckart
Prairie Ridge Elementary, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Middle Level co-sponsored by Scholastic, Inc.
Hale Edwards
Riverside Middle School, Greer, South Carolina

Secondary Level co-sponsored by McDougal Littell
Jeff Reiman
Grandview High School, Aurora, Colorado

Patricia Wilson
Bloomington High School North
Bloomington, Indiana