Reasserting the Relevance of the Social Studies: An Emerging Model for Collaborative Cross-state Research

Abstract

There is a timely movement afoot to secure the rightful place of social studies as a core part of curriculum at a time when it is increasingly compromised across the nation. The authors present a model that accepts the call to consider the enterprise of social studies research and broaden it to address the needs of the day. They offer a brief history of social studies research and describe the need for political advocacy in the current context, arguing that establishing a new model for collaborative cross-state research can significantly advance the existing body of research on social studies and can therefore be a strong contributing factor in ensuring the rightful place of social studies in schools. They detail some of the collateral impacts beyond advocacy that may result and submit that this model holds promise for reasserting the relevance of the social studies curriculum.