Dec. 14 | Education Town Hall with Pam Beningo
Colorado Social Studies Revisions Open for Public Comment
From Pam Beningo, Education Policy Center Director at the Independence Institute:
URGENT: Public comment on Colorado’s proposed social studies standards closes January 1, 2022. It is vital that individuals read the proposed standards and make comments.
In Colorado, local school boards adopt curricula and textbooks, but the State Board of Education adopts academic standards that all public schools in the state, including charter schools, must meet or exceed.
Each standard includes grade level expectations and related outcomes. The following is an example of an outcome from the proposed first-grade history standard:
First Grade-Students can understand that people’s lived experiences impact their perspective on historical events. For example: Multiple perspectives on the First Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Juneteenth, and Cinco De Mayo.
Each standard includes inquiry questions for teachers to use in the classroom. The following is an example of a question from the proposed first-grade history standard:
Teachers are to ask their first graders how are African American, Latino, Asian American, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ, and religious minority cultures different from and similar to one another?
It is important that your voice is heard. After public comment is closed, the standards committee will consider revising the proposed standards based on public comment. The State Board of Education will ultimately vote on the final standards.
For more information and to make your comments, please visit the Colorado Academic Standards Review and Revision webpage: Colorado Academic Standards Review and Revision Process | CDE.
Join Pam and FEC United for a live town hall to better understand the new standards, and how you can give input. The town hall will be Tuesday, December 14, 2021 from 7PM-9PM. This will be an online event.
Access the Meeting HERE
While this event is Colorado focused, it may provide insight to people in other states as state standards are rarely set in a vacuum. Teacher unions and the educational establishment have a great deal of influence and sway over standards nationwide.
