Pennsylvania+Academic+Standards+for+Social+Studies


 * IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ**:

A bit of a dichotomy exists concerning Pennsylvania's social studies standards. As established by Chapter 4 of the Pennsylvania Public School Code, the social studies consist of the disciplines of Civics and Government, Economics, Geography and History. Currently, the Academic Standards for these disciplines that were approved by the State Board of Education in July 2002 ARE LAW. The recently revised Academic Standards that appear in the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Standards Aligned System site are considered VOLUNTARY, as they have not completed the approval process to become regulation. The reasoning here is that the Standards Aligned System will soon sport a "Voluntary Model Curriculum" that will assist teachers and curriculum planners with what is expected in crafting an effective and relevant curriculum. As the sample curriculum presented there is voluntary, so, then, are the accompanying standards. Both sets of Academic Standards are available here for your quick reference and use.


 * ORGANIZING DOCUMENTS**

**Pennsylvania Educational Code**

**Chapter 4 (Curriculum) of PA Code**


 * APPROVED ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES (July 2002)**

Civics and Government

Economics

Geography

History


 * "VOLUNTARY" ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES (June 2009)**

Civics and Government (Grades 3-8)

Civics and Government (High School)

Economics (Grades 3-8)

Economics (High School)

Geography (Grades 3-8)

Geography (High School)

History (Grades 3-8)

History (High School)