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History, Government and Social Studies (HGSS)

Mission Statement

The Kansas Standards for History, Government and Social Studies (HGSS) prepare students to be informed, thoughtful, engaged citizens as they enrich their communities, state, nation, world and themselves.

2024-25 HGSS Regional PLCs: Locations and Dates with Registration Links



HGSS Standards and Benchmarks Document

 TitleDescription
HGSS Standards Alignment Toolkit 
Kansas History, Government, and Social Studies StandardsAdopted on March 10, 2020. Revised October 6, 2021.

K-12 HGSS Standards and Benchmarks:

1. Choices have consequences.

1.1 - The student will recognize and evaluate significant choices and consequences that have impacted our lives and
              futures.
1.2 - The student will analyze the context and draw conclusions about choices and consequences.
1.3 - The student will investigate and connect examples of choices and consequences with contemporary issues.
1.4 - The student will use their understanding of choices and consequences to make a claim or advance a thesis
              using evidence and argument.

2. Individuals have rights and responsibilities.

2.1 - The student will recognize and evaluate the rights and responsibilities of people living in societies.
2.2 - The student will analyze the context and draw conclusions about rights and responsibilities.
2.3 - The student will investigate and connect the rights and responsibilities of individuals with contemporary issues.
2.4 - The student will use their understanding of rights and responsibilities to make a claim or advance a thesis using
              ​evidence and argument.

3. Societies are shaped by identities, beliefs and practices of individuals and groups.

3.1 - The student will recognize and evaluate how societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs, and practices of
               individuals and groups.
3.2 - The student will analyze context and draw conclusions of how societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs,
              and practices of individuals and groups.
3.3 - The student will investigate and connect how societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs, and practices of
              individuals and groups with contemporary issues.
3.4 - The student will use their understanding of how societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs, and practices of
              individuals and groups to make a claim or advance a thesis using evidence and argument.

4. Societies experience continuity and change over time.

4.1 - The student will recognize and evaluate continuity and change over time.
4.2 - The student will analyze the context and draw conclusions about continuity and change.
4.3 - The student will investigate and connect continuity and change to a contemporary issue.
4.4 - The student will use their understanding of continuity and change to make a claim or advance a thesis using
              evidence and argument.

5. Relationships among people, places, ideas and environments are dynamic. 

5.1 - The student will recognize and evaluate dynamic relationships that impact lives in communities, states, and
              nations.
5.2 - The student will analyze the context and draw conclusions about dynamic relationships.
5.3 - The student will investigate and connect dynamic relationships to contemporary issues.
5.4 - The student will use their understanding of dynamic relationships to make a claim or advance a thesis using
              evidence and argument.


HGSS Classroom Based Assessment Rubrics and Information

The HGSS Classroom Based Assessment is designed to be used by learners and teachers for promoting Inquiry Based Learning
 TitleDescription
CBA ToolkitThis toolkit has been designed to assist educators in the creation of HGSS CBA assessments.
HGSS-CBA Fact SheetClassroom Based Assessment fact sheet to answer basic questions concerning the CBA.
HGSS Elementary School Scoring RubricRevised September 2023
HGSS Middle School Scoring RubricRevised September 2023
HGSS High School Scoring RubricRevised Oct. 12, 2023
History, Government and Social Studies Alternate Rubric and Information 

KSDE Four Fundamentals Defined

Structured Literacy--Structured Literacy refers to the explicit, systematic, diagnostic, and cumulative approach to teaching literacy that acknowledges the value of both word recognition and oral and written language comprehension as evidenced in all grades and disciplines.

Balanced Assessment--A Balanced Assessment System refers to a collection of varying types of assessments that provide feedback regarding instruction and student learning.  It utilizes assessment as a measure for learning and of learning.

Standards Alignment--Standards Alignment has clearly defined student learning expectations aligned to Kansas State Standards and supported with evidence-based instruction and materials.

High-Quality Instruction--High-Quality Instruction refers to implementation of evidence-based lesson design that reflects high expectations, meaningful student engagement, and learning activities aligned to the Kansas State Standards.  A data-driven system of differentiated supports is necessary to help each student meet rigorous state standards. 

KSDE Read-Alongs

History, Government and Social Studies Parent Guides

HGSS Quick Links Menu

Program Manager - Humanities
Nate McAlister
(785) 296-3892
nmcalister@ksde.org

Program Manager - Humanities
(785) 296-2144
 

Deputy Commissioner:
Division of Learning Services

Dr. Ben Proctor
(785) 296-2303
bproctor@ksde.org

Director: 
Career, Standards and Assessment

Beth Fultz
(785) 296-4639
bfultz@ksde.org

Assistant Director: 
Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Natalie D. Clark
(785) 296-4351
​ndclark@ksde.org

Assistant Director: 
Curricular Standards

Vacant

 

Assistant Director: 
Assessment

Julie Ewing
(785) 296-2325
jewing@ksde.org

Assistant Director: 
Kansas Volunteer Commission

Dr. Jessica Dorsey
(785) 296-3163
jdorsey@ksde.org

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To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.