Developed by Tina Heafner, NCSS 2008 HOD Steering Committee Chair Updated by NCSS Staff

Article IX. Resolutions Section 1. Resolutions represent the principles, beliefs, and actions that the general membership of the NCSS, as represented in the House of Delegates, recommends to the NCSS Board of Directors.

Guide the current or future business operations of NCSS Provide direction on the nature of social studies education Address issues in the fields of history and social science inquiry Acknowledge social and political issues which are of concern to social studies educators but do not have direct impact on the nature of social studies education

Provide direction to NCSS Board of Directors for current and future work of NCSS Create a forum to express ideas, recommendations, issues and concerns relevant to NCSS and its work to promote quality teaching & learning of social studies Consideration should be given to the existing goals and actions of NCSS

Questions?

What issues are impacting Social Studies educators at the local and/or state level? What are the current and future goals of NCSS Reference NCSS Strategic Plan Reference NCSS Activities Overview Advocacy and Visibility Education and Knowledge Membership Engaged Citizenry Social Studies Excellence

What recommendations can be offered to support the organization/membership? How can the actions of NCSS improve the teaching and learning of social studies? Are there issues in my state or special interest group that are not represented? Are there issues that NCSS is not effectively addressing that need more or modified action? What do my constituents (state, committee members, affiliated group members, etc.) feel is important to social studies education?

Questions?

How effective is the purpose of the resolution articulated? Is the resolution clearly and concisely worded? Does the resolution follow the appropriate format? Rationale & Statement of Action Statement relating to goals & purposes of NCSS Statement relating to professional interests of NCSS Does the resolution contain actions that are prohibited? Change the structure of NCSS Bind NCSS to spend money? Is the resolution thoughtful and purposeful? Does the resolution connect and extend the current goals of NCSS as outlined in the strategic plan? If so, how? Has this or a similar resolution been considered before? Does the resolution represent the interests of my state or special interest group?

FOSTERING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AMONG SOCIAL STUDIES COMMUNITIES Supported by: New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois Co-Sponsors: California, Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Mexico, New York State RATIONALE: Numerous organizations including economic councils, historical councils, geographic alliances, and civic education communities currently exist and independently work toward a common goal. However, the communication between these distinct groups is often inarticulate, informal, or ineffectively shared. WHEREAS: local and regional institutions such as historical societies, museums, and archives serve as valuable potential resources for social studies educators, and WHEREAS: multiple and varied positions currently exist and communication between these groups is inconsistent and informal, and WHEREAS: social studies communities working independently can develop a myopic view to their immediate concerns in the absence of a greater discussion, and WHEREAS: communication among colleagues is imperative and necessary, and WHEREAS: national, state, and regional conferences are excellent ways for professionals to communicate and share ideas, and WHEREAS: it is important that NCSS take a lead role to support and promote national, state and regional conferences, and WHEREAS: conferences are excellent venues to advance and promote social studies education, and BE IT RESOLVED, that, in order to improve the quality of social studies teaching and learning in every classroom, the NCSS national, state, regional, local councils and special interest communities relating to social studies, will open a clear dialog between these diverse groups through joint endeavors including conferences, publications, and/or sponsorships to better address a theoretical, practical and standards-based approach to the teaching of social studies.

NCSS TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LEGISLATIVE LIAISONS AT THE AFFILIATE LEVELS BY PROVIDING TRAINING AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE Supported by: Colorado, California, Maryland, Oklahoma, Prince George’s County Co-Sponsors: Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Texas RATIONALE: The current National Council for the Social Studies body is in need of legislative liaisons who identify and monitor critical issues and engage in pro-active media and public relations in a timely manner as they relate to educational policy and programs that impact social studies education on the local, state and national levels. WHEREAS: It is essential to have communication between NCSS and the state and local affiliates on critical issues to support the advancement of social studies as they relate to educational policies and; WHEREAS: Training is essential to the creation of effective legislative liaisons; BE IT RESOLVED, NCSS should encourage and support the establishment of legislative liaisons at the affiliate levels who will monitor critical issues and engage in pro-active media and public relations in a timely manner as they relate to educational policy and programs that impact social studies education by providing training sessions for legislative liaisons at the annual conference facilitated by NCSS staff.

Questions?

Brainstorm topics for consideration List, Group, Label Small group development of resolutions Organized by topic of interest

Participate in resolution development Google Doc groups with topics of interest. Once the Google Doc drafted resolutions are ready to be shared, take resolutions back to your state councils, affiliated groups, communities and committees. Discuss, evaluate and debate resolutions. Consider additional resolutions relevant to regional, state, or local needs and interests. Resolutions Committee Review Resolutions Edit (if necessary) Order Resolutions

All resolutions must be submitted electronically by the 2 nd Monday in October to NCSS Council Services. Any additional resolutions must be presented electronically to the NCSS House of Delegates Resolution Committee at the open hearings to be held prior to the 1 st Session of the House of Delegates. All resolutions will be reviewed and edited by the NCSS House of Delegates Resolutions Committee. Finalized resolutions will be introduced before the House of Delegates at the NCSS Annual Conference in Atlanta, November 13-15, If resolutions have not been presented prior to the first session of the House of Delegates, there will be a call for additional resolutions to be introduced on the floor during Friday’s HOD session. Procedures outlining requirements for resolutions introduced on the floor are outlined in Article IX of the NCSS House of Delegates manual.