“ If the American economy is to recover from the Great Recession—and I believe it can—it will be because of a ready supply of workers with the critical thinking, creative problem-solving, technological and communications skills needed to fuel productivity and growth. The subject of history is an important part of that foundation.”
- Norm Augustine, a former undersecretary of the Army and retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin, Wall Street Journal Editorial, 2011.
Support Senate the “World History Bill,” Ohio Senate Bill 96
The Social Studies Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) currently assesses both the 9th grade World History and 10th grade American History courses. In order to pass the OGT students, need instruction in both World and American History. During the 2014-15 school year, this de facto requirement goes away as the new American History and Government end-of-course exams come online, and the OGT is phased out. Future Ohio graduates may choose not to take or not have the option to take World History, leaving them with a limited knowledge base and understanding of world cultures, world events, and the global economy as they enter college, military, or job market. The Ohio Department of Education has already developed new learning standards, model curriculum, and course syllabus for World History, as well as two additional world studies courses: World Geography and Contemporary World Issues. The Ohio Council for the Social Studies recommends the passage Ohio Senate Bill 96, which will ensure that Ohio high school students take a World History course as a part of the 3 social studies credits required for graduation. Schools currently offer World History as a course to prepare students for the OGT, so they would not need additional staffing or resource purchases to meet the new requirement. Ideally, students would also be assessed with an end-of-course exam, but even without an assessment, a required credit will ensure Ohio’s students will continue to receive instruction in world history and cultures.
For more information about the importance of students learning World history download the full PDF World Savvy Global Competency Research Report.
Call for the Restoration of Elementary and Middle School Social Studies Assessments
Social Studies instruction is an integral part of a well-rounded education. In Social Studies classes, students learn about history, geography, civic, and economic content and skills that prepare them for their role as effective, engaged, and contributing citizens. The state’s FY 2010-11 and FY 2012-13 state budgets suspended the Social Studies Ohio Achievement Assessments (OAA’s) at Grades 5 and 8. The elimination of funding for K-8 state assessments in Social Studies resulted in a reduction of instructional time and resources in Ohio’s schools, leaving many students with a limited foundation in the social studies content, skills, and vocabulary (The State of 3-5 Social Studies Instruction in Ohio, 2012). House Bill 1 (2009) and Senate Bill 165 (2012) require new 5th and 8th grade Social Studies assessments to be administered during the 2014-2015 school year. The recent passage of House Bill 555 (2012) has changed the testing grades for these assessments to 4th and 6th grade. The Ohio Council for the Social Studies (OCSS) commends the Ohio General Assembly for approving legislation that moves these assessments to grades 4 and 6. It is recommended by OCSS that they are funded in the next biennium budget so that our teachers will have the resources they need to educate our young citizens for tomorrow’s world.
CLICK HERE to for a printable copy of the position statements for OCSS’s legislative priorities.
