August 20, 2009

CCSS Framework Position Statement

Letter to Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny to urge the State Legislature to reinstate the process for revising the History-Social Science Framework and all other Frameworks as scheduled.  This letter was written in response to Governor Schwarzenegger’s elimination of funding for the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission and its work on revising curriculum frameworks, item 6110-001-0001 of the 2009-10 state budget amendments.

October 1, 2009

CCSS letter of support for the Common Core Standards

Letter to Gene Wilhoit, Council of Chief State School Officers, Dane Linn of the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Governor and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction   to a) establish Common Core Standards for Social Studies, b) bring together National Council for the Social Studies and other professional organizations to underscore the critical importance of social studies as an indispensable aspect of every child’s educational experience, and c) frame the Common Core Standards for Social Studies from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills to include critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills in the context of civic literacy, economic/financial literacy, and global awareness, students will become successful students of social studies and even more importantly, effective citizens and productive members of the domestic and global workforce.
 

  CCSS Bill Review April 2009

Letter sent to the congressional leadership to urge their support in passing the The United States and the World Education Act (H.R. 7063).

Letter to Chairman Miller

Resolution HR7063

It is with great pride that we share with you this exciting news.  State Assemblyman Gene Mullin has introduced Assembly Joint Resolution No. 64 that urges the

110th Congress to recognize the importance of curriculum and instruction covering all subjects, including history/social science, science, art, music, and physical education, when Congress considers reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This measure also would urge school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to focus teaching the whole child in a wider curriculum and would urge the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to consider and recommend alternatives for including all subjects in the assessment and accountability system. 

A copy of the entire Resolution can be found below and in the attached file.

Discussion about introducing legislation to address the narrowing of the curriculum and the need to support History-Social Science education in California schools began with a meeting convened at the 2007 CCSS Annual Conference.  The meeting was led by Jim Hill, CCSS Government Relations Chair and Michelle Herczog, CCSS President with guidance from CCSS Legislative Analyst Fred Jones.  It was attended by a number of History-Social Science leaders and organizations listed below.  A number of ideas were suggested and shared with State Assemblyman Gene Mullin.  After much discussion, Assemblyman Mullin co-authored the attached resolution with Senator Scott.  Needless to say, the California Council for the Social Studies is very excited to see this resolution introduced and is extremely grateful to the participants of our planning meeting and of course, the Office of State Assemblyman Mullin. 

Letters of support can be sent to:

Honorable Gene Mullin, Assemblymember
State Capitol, Rm 2163
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: (916) 319-2119

AJR 64

August 5, 2007

Debra Strain
Regulations Coordinator, Legal Division
California Department of Education

CCSS recommendations regardsing 15-Day Notice of Modifications to Text of Proposed Regulations, Instructional Materials

April 21, 2007


George Miller, Member of Congress
Seventh District of California


CCSS recommendations for No Child Left Behind

December 28, 2007

Education Week Editorial Office
6935 Arlington Road, Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20814-5233

CCSS letter-to-the-editor in support of Education Week article by Judith Pace “Why We Need to Save (and Strengthen) Social Studies” (December 19, 2007).

Letter sent to each member of Congress to urge their support in signing The Education for Democracy Act of the Department of Education (ESEA II, Part C-3).  The act was written to  support the domestic and international programs of the Center for Civic Education and several other organizations and  was not included in the Administration's Fiscal Year 2008 (FY2008) budget request to Congress.

March 8, 2007


Debra Strain, Regulations Coordinator
Legal Division
California Department of Education

CCSS recommendations for the California Department of Education regarding the  Instructional Materials Adoption Process.

March 21, 2007

Brad Huff, Chair
California Curriculum Correlating Council

Letter invites and encourages the California Curriculum Correlating Council to support AB 1537, a bill that would direct the California Department of Education (CDE) to administer a model civic education staff development program to be available through school districts and county offices of education for implementation districtwide in grades K-12 throughout California. 

March 21, 2007
Gene Mullin, Assemblymember, Nineteenth District
Chair, Education Committee


Letter expresses support for AB 1537, a bill introduced by Assemblyman Gene Mullin to direct the California Department of Education (CDE) to administer a model civic education staff development program to be available through school districts and county offices of education for implementation districtwide in grades K-12 throughout California. 

March 26, 2007

Tom Adams, Ph.D., Director
Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Office
California Department of Education

Recommendations of CCSS regarding the revision of the California History-Social Science Framework.