Pre-K-6 Elementary Social Studies Standards Revision Process Update January 7, 2020

The elementary social studies revision is currently in step six of the standards revision process.

The social studies standards writing team, comprised of experienced elementary teachers and LEA social studies specialist, has met as a full committee four times, in addition to their own smaller grade-band meetings. This work has been carried out even as these teachers have adjusted to the realities of the pandemic and is a testament to their dedication to this revision process.

Committee members report that they are very excited about changes they are proposing to the standards. These changes are driven by:

•Attentiveness to all of the standards review committee recommendations •Commitment to deeper levels of cognitive rigor whenever appropriate •Consistent attention to natural connections to other disciplines, e.g. science, fine arts, or ELA standards •Clarity regarding what they consider to be essential standards •Dedication to ensuring that all standards are assessable

Rigor is a constant theme in the standards conversation. In our most recent full team meeting, the kindergarten and first grade writers were sharing how excited they are about the depth of thinking that will be required of their students in their revision, and how it is shifting towards a more cognitively rich document that will allow for standards-based assessment of authentic knowledge and skills.

They are also paying close attention to the reading, writing, speaking, and listening demands called upon in English Language Arts (ELA), and want to reinforce the ELA standards whenever possible. They were updated on the recent Fordham Foundation report linking high-quality social studies instruction to increases in literacy gains.

The committee is organizing the standards with an attention to four essential disciplines: history, geography, economics, and civics. Each of these disciplines are rich with opportunities for teaching the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for students to engage fully with the world around them.

In addition, the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade standards, which devote attention to the study of Utah, the U.S.A. and world, respectively, have created a chronological structure to their standards that will serve as an overlay to the study of the four essential disciplines.

The writers will continue to meet and refine their grade band drafts. They are hoping that they will have their grade-specific work completed in January to the point where the other grade bands can provide feedback in February.

February will be the time for final editing before submission in board backup on March 2, 2021 to Standards and Assessment for the March 12, 2021 meeting. If they are approved for consideration by the full board in the April meeting, and approved, the release for 90 days will begin then, April, May, June.

The standards should be back before the board, with any final changes necessitated by the public comment, by September board meeting, which would allow for final edits and then a year of implementation in 2021-2022 so that they would be fully in place by the 2022-2023 school year. Elementary Writing Team Roster

Member Name LEA School Alison Keddington Canyons School District Albion Andrea Reynolds Tooele School District Stansbury Park Elementary School Anjanette McNeely Layton Elementary School Aubrie Lundquist Alpine School District Alpine District Specialist Brandi Richman Tooele School District Overlake Elementary School Elaine Hulbert Alpine School District Alpine District Specialist Erica Decker Alpine School District Thunder Ridge Elementary School Erin Lamichhane Alpine School District Foothill Elementary School (Henni) Janae Barron Midas Creek Elementary School John Arthur Salt Lake School District Meadowlark Elementary School Julie Carling Davis School District East Layton Elementary School Katrina Herd Salt Lake School District Mountain View Elementary School Machelle Rogers Jordan School District Rosamond Elementary School Melanie Nicholes Woodrow Wilson Elementary School Mohsen Ghaffari Salt Lake School District North Star Elementary School Pamela Su’a Jordan School District Jordan District Associate Director Patty Bingham Tooele School District Overlake Elementary School Sherri Morrill Jordan School District Midas Creek Elementary School Walter Elliot Salt Lake School District Mountain View Elementary School

Utah State Board of Education Elementary Social Studies Revision Process

Governing Documents •Statute: 53E-4-202 Core Standards for Utah Public Schools; 53E-4-203 Standards ReviewCommittee •Board Policy: 3002 Standards Review Committee •USBE Standards Revisions Process

Steps in Standards Revision Process Timeline

1.Review Triggered June 2019

2.Board Approval for Standards Review August 1, 2019 Approved on Consent Calendar

3.Standards Review Membership August-September 2019 Identification Members were selected and invited to meeting

Steps in Standards Revision Process Timeline

4. Standards Review Committee November 25, 2019 and December 16, 2019

Meetings were held and Committee recommended revisions and additional recommendations.

5. Report Standards Review Committee January 9, 2020 Comments and Recommendations Standards and Assessment Committee (determination for moving forward) Agenda item was clarified as a discussion item per approved process and recommendations were reviewed.

6.Writing Committee Organized January 7, 2021 Standards and Assessment Committee Update

7.a Draft Standards Ready for Release

b. Board Approval of Public Release 8. 90-Day Public Review

9. Revised Draft of Standards

10. Full Board Opportunity for Review and Feedback

Steps in Standards Revision Process Timeline

11. Committee Review and Determination of Path

12. Final Draft Review and Approval

13. Report Implementation Plan and Provide Updates

Planned Timeline

• January Grade Band Drafts Complete (Step 6) • February Whole Committee Feedback (Step 6) • March Standards and Assessment Committee (Step 7a) • April Review by Full Board (Step 7b) • If Approved, 90 days would begin with April to July (Step 8) • July Revision based on public comment (Step 9) • August Submission to Standards and Assessment Committee (Step 9a or 9b) • September consideration by full board (Step 10)