National 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 info@ccss.org

Apply to be on a Committee for 2012-2013. Deadline to apply is April 15th, 2013.

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 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.

Minutes from Publications and Technology Committee Meeting March 9, 2013