Multiple Social Studies curricula was reviewed and vetted by teacher committees from November to June to determine an appropriately curriculum aligned with Florida Standards in grades K-5 that could be effectively implemented through an integrated approach with English Language Arts.  The shift to teaching Social Studies (i.e. nonfiction and informational text) in our ELA instruction block required a new approach to textbook teaching.   After extensive research, teacher vetting and individual teacher surveys for input, the recommendation is to purchase and implement three social studies curriculum resources.

• Social Studies aligned classroom libraries for all K-5 teachers of social studies

• Primary Resource kits of guided reading sets for all K-3 teachers of social studies

• Data based question (DBQ) Project for all 4-5 teachers of social studies.

These three curriculum resources will be embedded in the ELA curriculum guides for teachers to use during the Literacy block increasing the teaching of social studies in all grades.

Historically social studies has been a standalone class with no state assessment.  As a result, the teaching of social studies has not been the highest priority for instructional time.  To increase the teaching of engaging social studies standards, topics and lessons and to help increase student performance at reading non-fiction, informational text, tested on the Florida State Assessment(FSA), these materials will be integrated into our Literacy Block with 150 minutes of instructional time.

Social Studies instruction has not been a state assessed area of the elementary curriculum until recently embedded in the new ELA FSA. As a result, previous outcomes are difficult to measure from school to school as assessment has been at the discretion of individual teachers.  

The proposed adoption of new Social Studies curriculum materials will empower teachers with resources that can be easily integrated into literacy instruction, provide students with more consistent and authentic social studies instruction  aligned with reading in the content area.  Student understanding and knowledge of social studies concepts should increase as should reading performance of nonfiction, informational text resulting in increased student growth and proficiency on the district and state assessments.

Ensure that every classroom provides a quality and rigorous instructional experience in order to elevate student outcomes.

Financial Impact: Total Cost

• Classroom Libraries $158,844

• Primary Resources /Guided reading- $34,420.94

• DBQ Project -13, 435.37

Funding Source: Textbook Categorical Funds

That the Clay County School Board hold a public hear to approve the purchase of new social studies curriculum to include socials studies standards aligned classroom libraries, Data Based Questions (DBQ Project) and Primary Resource Kits of social studies documents and guided reading materials.