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News & Announcements ​

Resources for Teaching About the 2024 Presidential Election

  1. The National Council for the Social Studies released an article entitled “The Keys to the White House: The Outlook for 2024
  2. CU Boulder  has an article entitled “Preparing Your Classroom for the 2024 National Election
  3. The News Literacy Project has this Misinformation Dashboard: Election 2024
  4. PBS Learning Media has launched “Election Central
  5. Facing History and Ourselves has a curated list of resources “Teaching Resources for US elections.”
  6. iCivics has an “Election Headquarters
  7. A Framework for Teaching Controversial Issues: https://teachingcontroversies.com/framework/
Fall Webinar Series
The Colorado Council for the Social Studies is hosting a 3-part webinar series for its members entitled “Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities.”  These webinars will be focusing on instructional strategies and materials for teaching about the 2024 Presidential Election. For more information and to register for the series, visit the CCSS website.

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Academic Standards

Preparing students for the 21st century cannot be accomplished without a strong and sustaining emphasis on the social studies. The social studies provide cornerstone skills that are the key to opening doors for a more diverse, competitive workforce and responsible citizenry.

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Curriculum Support

Article IX, Section 16 of Colorado's constitution states, "Neither the general assembly nor the state board of education shall have power to prescribe textbooks to be used in the public schools." However, CDE can still serve as an advisor to help districts and schools adopt, adapt, develop, or use the materials of their choice.

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Instructional Support

Instructional support is grounded in CDE's shared approach to Best, First Instruction as well as practices and strategies supported by professional organizations and scholars at the leading edge of social studies education.

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Community

There are many opportunities to connect and grow as a professional educator with the larger Social Studies education community.


Social Studies Information

  1. The Gilder Lehrman National History Teacher of the Year Award The National History Teacher of the Year Award recognizes outstanding K–12 American history teachers across the country. The 2025 award & honors outstanding elementary or secondary school teachers. Nominate a teacher today!

  2. Social Studies Instruction and Reading Comprehension: Evidence from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study A new study finds that social studies instruction in elementary school improves student's reading scores! Here are the 2 key points from the study:
  3. Civics as a Graduation Requirement In 2004, the Colorado State Legislature passed a bill requiring all high school students to pass a course in civics. This is the only state graduation requirement. Specifically, the law states, "Satisfactory completion of a course on the civil government of the United States and the state of Colorado ... shall be a condition of high school graduation in the public schools of this state. Here is the full text of the law: CRS. 22-1-104.

For further assistance, please contact: 

Stephanie Hartman, Ph.D.
Social Studies Content Specialist
720.498.2084
Hartman_S@cde.state.co.us