www.PearsonSchool.com/C3

*Source: The Vision for the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Inquiry in Social Studies State Standards.

Social Studies: It’s people. It’s places. It’s cultures. It’s history. It’s our world. And it’s essential.

Social studies is more than dots on a map. It’s where we’ve been and where we’re going. And in today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, it’s essential in the 21st Century classroom.

The recently released ELA/Literacy Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are designed to prepare students to be college and career ready. What better way to get students ready for the global world outside their classroom than through social studies instruction? Social studies curriculum is an essential part of achieving the new CCSS.

In addition to the CCSS, a new framework for social studies instruction—known as the C3 Framework—is in the process of being developed and is designed to help educators expand social studies and civic education in the K–12 classroom.

The final draft of the C3 Framework isn’t scheduled to release until the Summer of 2013 and there are a lot of questions about what it will mean for social studies education. Since Pearson Social Studies is committed to providing teachers with the latest information, strongest content, and resources on social studies and civic instruction we have put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions on this new Framework. The answers found in this document are based on resources from the Vision for the C3 Framework Web site and the most recent draft of the Framework.

What Is the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework?

*Source: The Vision for the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Inquiry in Social Studies State Standards.

What Is the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework?

www.PearsonSchool.com/C3

What does C3 stand for? C3 stands for College, Career, and Civic Life.

What is the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework?More than 20 states and a number of civic learning organizations are planning to release the new College, Career, and Civic Life Framework (C3). The new C3 Framework focuses on social studies inquiry and civics, economics, geography, and history. The C3 Framework also connects to the ELA/Literacy Common Core State Standards for social studies and is designed to serve as the guide to showcase how an educator can teach K–12 social studies within the CCSS.

According to the latest draft of the framework: In the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, the call for students to become more prepared for the challenges of college and career is united with a third element: preparation for civic life. Advocates of citizenship education cross the political spectrum, but they are bound by a common belief that our democratic republic will not sustain unless students are aware of their changing cultural and physical environ-ments; know the past; read, write, and think deeply; and act in ways that promote the common good.*

When is the C3 framework scheduled to launch? Currently, the scheduled launch is the Summer of 2013. The framework will also be a big focus of the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) annual conference in late November 2013.

Who is developing the C3 Framework?The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards was developed through a state-led effort and supported by 15 professional organizations representing four core social studies content areas: civics, economics, geography, and history. The C3 Framework was written by experts in the academic disciplines and social studies education in collaboration with classroom teachers, state department of education personnel, and professional organization representatives.*

*Source: The Vision for the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Inquiry in Social Studies State Standards.

What states are involved in the C3 project? As of this writing, states involved in the project are: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

When did work on the framework begin? Work on the C3 Framework began in 2010 with the development of an initial conceptual guidance document written by members of the social studies state collaborative and representatives from the professional associations.*

How were the framework’s writers selected? The framework writers were selected in consultation with the participating professional associations and state education agencies. Feedback was solicited throughout the process from stakeholders, including invitational reviews with state department personnel, professional organizations, teachers, and critical friends.*

Does the C3 Framework work in conjunction with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)? The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and the Technical Subjects call on social studies teachers to share in the responsibilities for literacy instruction in K–12 education (NGA & CCSSO, 2010a). The expectations for literacy learning in grades K–5 are established through the four strands of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language. For grades 6–12, the ELA/Literacy Common Core provides specific literacy standards for Reading and Writing in History/Social Studies.

The C3 Framework fully incorporates and extends the expectations for literacy learning put forward in the Common Core Standards for ELA/Literacy. The authors of the Framework view the literacy skills detailed in the Common Core for ELA/Literacy as establishing a foundation for inquiry in social studies and should be an indispensable part of any state’s social studies standards.

The connections between the C3 Framework and the ELA/Literacy Common Core are comprehensive and consistent. The CCR Anchor Standards for the ELA/Literacy Common Core, particularly those in the Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening strands, provide a useful context for illustrating the broader connections across and within each Dimension of the C3 Framework.*

What Is the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework?

www.PearsonSchool.com/C3

*Source: The Vision for the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Inquiry in Social Studies State Standards.

How is the C3 Framework organized?The C3 Framework begins with two narrative explanations: the Inquiry Arc, which provides the organizing struc-ture for the document; and the Overview of English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy Common Core Connections, which highlights the important relationship between the C3 Framework and the Common Core State Standards for ELA/Literacy. Next, the C3 Framework presents the following four Dimensions, then it closes with four appendices.*

What are the Dimensions of the C3 Framework? The C3 Framework is organized into the following four Dimensions:

• Dimension 1: Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries• Dimension 2: Applying Disciplinary Concepts and Tools• Dimension 3: Evaluating Sources and Using Evidence• Dimension 4: Communicating Conclusions and Taking Informed Action

What is not covered in the C3 Framework?The C3 Framework is intended to serve as a resource for states to consider as they upgrade their existing state social studies standards. The Framework provides guidance on the key concepts and skills students should develop through a robust social studies program of study, but intentionally does not address all of the elements states will need to consider in developing and upgrading standards.*

Where can I get more information about the C3 Framework? More information on the framework can be found here.

Visit the K–12 Pearson Social Studies C3 Web site for the latest information including our C3 community, K–12 Social Studies e-Newsletter, free resources, and much more! www.PearsonSchool.com/C3

What Is the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework?

www.PearsonSchool.com/C3