Social Studies Is Essential makes the case for restoring social studies as a core component of K–12 instruction.

The paper highlights declining instructional time, explains the role social studies plays in literacy and civic readiness, and outlines how cross-curricular instruction can strengthen student outcomes without sacrificing tested subjects.

Key Benefits

With this resource, education leaders can:

• Understand the impact of reduced social studies instruction
• Connect social studies to literacy development
• Support cross-curricular learning
• Promote civic readiness and global citizenship
• Address equity and engagement gaps

Who Should Use This White Paper?

This resource is designed for:

• District and school administrators
• Social studies leaders
• Curriculum teams
• Instructional leadership teams