California Council for the Social Studies

CCSS Committees

 

Much of the work and outreach of CCSS occurs through the committees. All committees meet a minimum of twice per year; the day before the first fall Board of Directors, and at the Annual CCSS Conference. Individual committees meet to conduct business as needed during the rest of the year. All CCSS members are eligible to serve on a committee. Much of the committee business is conducted through email, so it very important to have a working email account. To become a committee member, review the purpose of each committee, as it is described below, and join it by contacting the committee chair listed on the chart or by contacting the CCSS office at                (530) 809-0290         (530) 809-0290  or

Apply to be on a Committee for 2011-2012.  Deadline to apply is April 22nd, 2011.
Click here to download the application.

Committee Planning Guide Documents

 

 
 

 

Curriculum and Instruction Committee 

The purpose of the Curriculum and Instruction Committee of CCSS is to...

  • Advise the Board of Directors of significant developments in curriculum and instruction that may require a response from the Council. 
  • Advise the Board of Directors of strategies to promote the implementation of high quality social studies education in the schools of California. 
  • Encourage and promote participation of CCSS members on state bodies developing standards, frameworks, instructional materials, and other documents and programs of the social studies. 
  • Encourage and promote participation of CCSS members on state bodies that serve as evaluators of statewide documents and programs in social studies. 
  • Act as a clearinghouse to provide California educators with information, resources, and support for implementing California history-social sciencestandards-based instruction using the California History-Social Science Curriculum Framework as the guide. 

 

Diversity and Social Justice Committee 

The purpose of the Diversity and Social Justice Committee of CCSS is to...

  • Keep attention on issues of diversity and social justice alive in the classroom, the school community, and the curriculum. 
  • Provide resources and best practices to help educators integrate diversity and social justice issues into the classroom and school. 
  • Plan and implement the History Day in California award for Diversity and Social Justice. 
  • Ensure that diversity and social justice issues are represented at the annual CCSS conference. 

Governmental Relations Committee 

The purpose of the Governmental Relations Committee of CCSS is to... 

  • Develop and recommend strategies and procedures by which CCSS can influence public policy, promote social studies, and enhance civic education. 
  • Monitor the work of the Legislative Information Officer and advise and assist CCSS Board of Directors on issues related to legislation and public policy impacting social studies education. 
  • Establish, enhance, maintain, and support the dissemination of legislative information to the CCSS membership. 
  • Sponsor the Governmental Relations Breakfast at the annual conference. 
  • In collaboariton with the local CCSS affiliates in the region of the annual conference, select a recipient for the public policy leadership award recognizing actions by a government leader that positively impacts social studies education.

Membership and Outreach Committee 

The purpose of the Membership and Outreach Committee of CCSS is to... 

  • Design and implement strategies for the recruitment and retention of CCSS members. 
  • Monitor membership trends and local council membership. 
  • Coordinate and collaborate with local council leadership and CCSS committees to increase membership and outreach. Promote communication with other social studies organizations in California. 
  • Inform potential and current members of the benefits and privileges of CCSS membership for professionals in the field of social studies education. 

 

Professional Standards and Awards Committee

The purpose of the Professional Standards and Awards Committee of CCSS is to... 

  • Advise the Board of Directors of significant developments in the preparation requirements and/or working conditions of social studies teachers which may require response or action by the Council. 
  • Advise the Board of Directors of strategies to enhance the recruitment and training of outstanding social studies educators in California. 
  • Identify and disseminate research pertinent to improving social studies education. 
  • Administer the CCSS awards program in conformity with NCSS regulations and the processes and procedures outlined in CCSS Standing Rules. 
  • Make recommendations to the CCSS Board of Directors for improvement of the Awards program.

Publications and Technology Committee 

The purpose of the Publications Committee of CCSS is to... 

  • Delineate the types of information provided by each of the CCSS publications including the quarterly newsletter, Sunburst; the semi annual professional journal, Social Studies Review; and the CCSS website. 
  • Plan and organize the production and distribution of Occasional Publications. Advise, assist, and oversee the work of the editors of each CCSS publication.
  • Develop and coordinate publication policies and profiles.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of publications within CCSS membership. 
  • Participate in the development of job descriptions, expectations, and responsibilities, and in the hiring of new publication editors. 

ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES

 

Section 8.1         The CCSS shall have standing committees, operational committees, and such other special committees and task forces as may be deemed necessary.

Section 8.2         The CCSS shall have the following standing committees: Curriculum and Instruction, Diversity and Social Justice, Governmental Relations, Membership and Outreach, Publications, and Professional Standards and Awards.

 8.2.1      The duties of each standing committee shall be defined in the Standing Rules.

8.2.2     Upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors shall annually appoint the liaison and core members of all standing committees at their May meeting for the following fiscal year.

8.2.2.1  Liaison members of standing committees are members of the Board of Directors who take responsibility for communications between the standing committee and the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Committee.  The number of liaison members on each standing committee shall be specified in the Standing Rules.

8.2.2.2  Core members of standing committees are CCSS members whose participation in meetings of the committee is funded by the Council.   The number of core members on each standing committee shall be specified in the Standing Rules.

8.2.2.3  Advisory members of standing committees may be appointed by the chair of the committee to meet particular needs, but their participation in the committee is not funded by the Council unless it is part of a specific action proposal approved by the Council.  Advisory members may be CCSS members or non-members.  They shall not have a vote in committee deliberations.

8.2.3     Chairs of standing committees shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at their annual May meeting for the following fiscal year.

           

8.2.4     Each standing committee shall meet a minimum of two times in each fiscal year, once in September at a place and time specified by the Board of Directors, and once in the early spring at the Annual Conference.

8.2.4.1   Basic costs of attendance at the September meetings of the standing committees shall be paid by the Council.

8.2.4.2   Standing committees may, at their own discretion, meet at other times in addition to the two annual meetings specified above, but participation in additional meetings is not funded by the Council unless the Board of Directors has approved an action proposal for that committee which includes such provision for funding such meetings.

8.2.5      Vacancies on standing committees may be filled by action of the Executive Committee.

            8.2.6       Organization of standing committees may be specified in the Standing Rules.

8.2.7       Standing committees may recommend programs and projects appropriate to the scope of their responsibilities to the Board of Directors, but they may undertake or commit to such projects or programs only with the explicit approval of the CCSS Board of Directors.

Section 8.3         The CCSS shall have the following operational committees:  Conference Planning, Conference Implementation, Financial Advisory, Nominating, and Staff Evaluation.

8.3.1     The duties of each operational committee, if not defined in these bylaws, shall be       defined in the Standing Rules.

8.3.2     The membership of each operational committee, if not defined in these bylaws,   shall be specified in the Standing Rules.

8.3.3     The members of operational committees who require Board approval shall be approved by the Board of Directors at the May meeting, to hold office during the following fiscal year.

Section 8.4      A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Board of Directors.

8.4.1                 The chairperson of the Nominating Committee shall be the immediate past president of the CCSS.

8.4.2    The Nominating Committee shall consist of the chairperson and three other persons, one from each CCSS area---North, Central, and South---appointed by the president with the approval of the Board of Directors.

8.4.3    The responsibilities of the Nominating Committee are specified in Article V of these bylaws.

Section 8.6    A Staff Evaluation Committee shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Board of Directors.

8.6.1    The chairperson of the Staff Evaluation Committee shall be the immediate past

president of CCSS.

8.6.2    The Staff Evaluation Committee shall consist of the chairperson and two other persons who are members of the Board of Directors.

8.6.3    The Staff Evaluation Committee shall administer an ongoing process of evaluation of the performance of all contracted employees of the Council

8.6.4    The Staff Evaluation Committee may appoint other persons as needed and appropriate to participate in the performance reviews and other aspects of the CCSS staff evaluation program.

8.6.5    The process of staff evaluation shall be outlined in the Standing Rules.

Section 8.9      Special committees and task forces may be created by the Board of Directors or by the Executive Committee to meet specified needs which are not ongoing.

8.9.1     The creation and operation of such special committees and task forces shall conform to the provisions of the standing rules.

 
 
 
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