Social Studies

Social Studies education helps students understand the world in which they live and prepares them with the knowledge and skills to become informed, thoughtful, and active citizens in a culturally diverse democratic society and complex world.

Social Studies draws upon anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences (adapted from the National Council for the Social Studies [NCSS] definition of Social Studies).

RIDE creates conditions for every Rhode Island student to think critically and collaboratively, and act as a creative, self-motivated, culturally, and globally competent learner. Rhode Island students are prepared to lead fulfilling and productive lives, succeed in academic and employment settings, and contribute meaningfully to society (RIDE Strategic Plan, 2021-2027).

Revised Rhode Island Social Studies Standards were endorsed by the Council for Elementary and Secondary Education in February 2023. Please see the tab below for more information about the revised Standards.

Rhode Island Social Studies Standards

Revised Rhode Island Rhode Island Social Studies Standards were endorsed by the Council for Elementary and Secondary Education in February 2023.

The full Standards document is available for download in PDF format:

The Standards document is also broken into segments for easier access below:

Kindergarten – Grade 8

High School

Informational Slides and Recording

The Rhode Island Social Studies Informational Standards Session has been recorded and is available here. This recording was created in May of 2023. 

A slide deck from the Rhode Island Social Studies Standards Informational Session is available for educators to share with their teams whether at the LEA or school level. It can be used to help with understanding of and planning for the implementation of the new Social Studies Standards. See the notes sections for talking points.  

Timeline for Implementation

LEAs are expected to review the revised Standards, identify grades requiring shifts, and develop a timeline for aligning curriculum and instruction by the fall of 2026.  RIDE will provide supports to LEAs in developing and implementing their timelines for the shifts they will need to make.  RIDE will also be putting together guidance documents including the Social Studies Frameworks, guidance on civics instruction, guidance on implementing and supporting the student-led civics project, guidance on the use of ELA materials where they can act as supplements to social studies materials, and guidance on core and supplemental curricular resources. In addition, RIDE will provide professional learning opportunities for educators.

 

Fig.1 - RIDE and LEA Collaboration Timeline
School Year RIDE LEAs

2022 -

2023
  • Publish Social Studies Frameworks
  • Host Informational sessions and webinars
  • Review alignment of current grade content with new standards
  • Identify grades that have shifts
  • develop timeline for aligning curriculum and instruction by Fall 2026

2023-

2024
  • Produce guidance on civics courses and civics project
  • Publish guidance on use of ELA instructional materials to supplement social studies curriculum materials
  • Publish guidance on curriculum and supplemental resources selection
  • Work with educators to select and purchase curriculum materials based on LEA timeline

2024-

2025
  • Support LEAs in selection of materials
  • Support LEAs in implementation
  • Develop additional civics project guidance
  • Provide professional learning opportunities for educators
  • Work with educators to select and purchase curriculum materials based on LEA timeline

2025-

2026
  • Continue to support LEAs in materials selection and implementation
  • Continue to provide professional learning opportunities
  • Work with educators to select and purchase curriculum materials based on LEA timeline

2026-

2027
  • Continue to support LEAs with implementation and provide professional learning
  • Full Implementation of new standards and curriculum

In September 2019, the Rhode Island Department of Elementary & Secondary Education invited Rhode Island educators to participate as members of a new Rhode Island History & Social Studies Advisory Committee (RIHSSAC). Through an application process, RIDE selected approximately 30 social studies, history, civic education, and elementary teachers from across the state to form this new advisory.

This Committee acts as advisors to RIDE and ambassadors to the education community on matters of history, civics, and social studies education. This committee also serves as a working group for a variety of initiatives, including work on the revised Social Studies Standards along with forthcoming Frameworks and other materials to support the Standards.

For more information on the RIHSSAC, please email: Social Studies

Stay informed about social studies – related information through the new Rhode Island Social Studies Newsletter. The first issue of the newsletter will be October 6 2022, and will be published once a month. Newsletter entries will include professional learning opportunities, conference announcements, open-source teaching resources, information to join academic competitions, enrichment ideas, opportunities to share with students, and other items that are specific to Social Studies or related disciplines.

Questions can be directed to: Social Studies

RIDE is issuing a Request for Curriculum from publishers of evidence-based, comprehensive, and content/domain-specific curricula for Rhode Island’s Grade 8 (Government and Civic Life in the United States and Rhode Island) and high school courses (US History I and II, World History I and II, and Civics) to align with the state’s recently revised Social Studies Standards. Through submissions received, RIDE will publish a report for use by LEAs that will detail the review process, summarize the curriculum review findings, and include a list of curricula that is RIDE-recommended. This report will be used to inform curricula adoption by Rhode Island LEAs.   

All relevant information pertaining to this solicitation, the deliverables needed for submission, and the submission instructions may be found in this document. Submissions are due by June 19, 2023. Contact socialstudies@ride.ri.gov with questions. 

RIDE is inviting Rhode Island educators to participate as reviewers for core curriculum for alignment to Rhode Island’s recently revised Social Studies Standards for Grade 8 (Government and Civic Life in the United States and Rhode Island) and high school courses (US History I and II, World History I and II, and Civics).  

Through this application process, RIDE will select social studies, history, and civic education high school and middle school educators to review curriculum. Review work will occur during summer 2023, and reviewers will be paid a stipend. Please see the full call for applicants here for more information about the project and how to apply. Applications are due by June 18, 2023. Contact socialstudies@ride.ri.gov with questions. 

RELATED LEGISLATION

  1. Civics Education – RIGL §16-22-2
  2. Genocide and human rights education – RIGL §16-22-22
  3. Statewide Education Standards - RIGL §16-22-30
  4. Curriculum Frameworks - RIGL §16-22-31
  5. Holocaust and Genocide Education in Secondary Schools – RIGL §16-93
  6. African American History Education in Elementary and Secondary School – RIGL §16-110
  7. Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history study – RIGL §16-22-36