| Alabama |
Among the requirements for receiving an Alabama high school diploma is passing the social studies subject-area test of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-4-2-.02)
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Alaska |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Arizona |
No. However, Ariz. Rev. Stat. §15-741 states that the state board may administer assessments of the academic standards in social studies.
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Arkansas |
The Department shall develop and implement criterion-referenced assessments to include social studies as funds are available and approved by the State Board of Education. (005 19 CARR 006)
For all grades, “Science, civics, and government shall be measured on a schedule as determined by the state board.” (ACA § 6-15-404 and ACA § 6-15-433)
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| California |
History-Social Science is assessed in grades 8, 10 and 11 through the California Standards Tests.
rev. 09/2008 |
History-Social Science assessment results from the California Standards Tests are included in the School Accountability Report Card.
rev. 09/2008 |
| Colorado |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
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| Connecticut |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Delaware |
Delaware Student Testing Program is based on state standards, including social studies.
“The Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) shall include the assessments of all students in grades 2 to 10 in the areas of reading and mathematics, grades 3 to 10 in the area of writing and the assessments of all students in grades 4, 6, 8, and 11 in the areas of science and social studies.” (CDR 14-101.1)
rev. 09/2008 |
State Accountability : “The State Progress shall be determined by improvement in the composite score of the reading, mathematics, science and social studies DSTP assessments combined. … Each of the subject areas shall be weighted equally at 25%.” (CDR 14-103.5)
rev. 09/2008 |
| District of Columbia |
No |
No |
| Florida |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Georgia |
The State Board of Education shall adopt a student assessment program consisting of instruments, procedures, and policies necessary to implement the program and shall fund all costs of providing and scoring such instruments, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Each local school system may elect to administer, with state funding, nationally norm-referenced instruments in reading, mathematics, science, or social studies in grade three, four, or five and in grade six, seven, or eight, …. The State Board of Education shall review, revise, and upgrade the quality core curriculum. Following the adoption of this revised curriculum, the State Board of Education shall contract for development of criterion-referenced competency tests to measure the quality core curriculum. Such tests in English and language arts, mathematics, and reading shall be administered annually to students in grades one through eight, and such tests in science and social studies shall be administered annually to students in grades three through eight. (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281)
Assessments (End-of-Course Tests) are administered at the completion of core high school courses specified by the State Board of Education, in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281(g), to measure student achievement in the four content areas of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 160-4-2-.13)
rev. 09/2008 |
School and district report cards include social studies aggregate scores based on the Criterion-Reference Competency Tests, which are based on the state curriculum.
rev. 09/2008 |
| Hawaii |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
The Educational Accountability System is “an annual statewide assessment program that provides a report card containing trend data on school, school complex, and system performance at selected benchmark grade levels with performance indicators in areas relating to student achievement, safety and well-being, and civic responsibility.” (HRS §302A-1004)
rev. 09/2008 |
| Idaho |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
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| Illinois |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
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| Indiana |
“The primary indicators of school improvement and performance include … (4) Science and social studies tests at grades 4, 6, and 8. … (c) School performance is based on the percentage of all students who pass mandatory annual assessments in English/language arts and mathematics calculated as an average rate across subject areas and grade levels. Science and social studies test results will be added when those tests are implemented.” (511 IAC 6.2-6-2)
ISTEP+ program testing shall be administered in the following subject areas: … (4) Social studies, in grade levels determined by the state board. (IC 20-32-5-2)
Beginning in Spring 2009, the ISTEP+ will include questions on social studies at grades 5 and 7. “Schools administer the following without substitution: ISTEP science tests and social studies tests, when implemented, at grades 5, 7, & 9. Schools may, with the approval of the board, substitute locally adopted tests for the following: Science and social studies tests at grades 4, 6, and 8.” (Indiana Department of Education Web site)
In 2008 - 09, a pilot end of course assessment (Core 40 ECA) in U.S. History will be administered at the end of instruction. The current plan is for United States History to become operational in the 2009-10 school year. Operational means that assessment is no longer a pilot, cut scores will be determined, and the test will be included in the state accountability system. (Indiana’s Statewide Assessment System Questions-And-Answers Questions submitted by Indiana Educators and the Public, Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008)
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Iowa |
The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) measure social sciences, among other subjects, for students in grades 3 – 8. School districts administer the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) to all students in, at least, grade 11. The tests are aligned to the Iowa Core Curriculum and assess analysis of social studies materials, among other subjects.
rev. 09/2008 |
Student achievement data is reported annually in the Annual Condition of Education Report which provides a wide range of Iowa education statistics and data and is intended to provide the citizens of Iowa a comprehensive look at the education system in Iowa. The standardized achievement tests, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) which measure social sciences and Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) which assess analysis of social studies materials, are included in the statewide assessment report.
rev. 09/2008 |
| Kansas |
“The state board shall provide for statewide assessments in the core academic areas of mathematics, science, reading, writing and social studies. The board shall ensure compatibility between the statewide assessments and the curriculum standards ...”… (K.S.A. § 72-6439)
Accreditation is based on Performance and Quality Criteria. Performance criteria include student performance on state assessments in social studies. (KAR 91-31-32 (b) (1) – (4))
rev. 09/2008 |
History-Government Assessments are given in grades 6 and 8, and high school, and are included in the Assessment Report. Information from the Assessment Report is incorporated on a statewide basis into the Accountability Report.
rev. 09/2008 |
| Kentucky |
The statewide assessment program, the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System, ensures school accountability for student achievement. It assesses student skills in social studies among other subjects. (KRS 158:6453) Kentucky Core Content Tests are based on the standards. Social studies is tested at grades 5, 8 & 11.
rev. 09/2008 |
School report cards include rankings on the basis of Kentucky Core Content Test scores, including social studies.
rev. 09/2008 |
| Louisiana |
Given at grade 11, the Graduation Exit Examination for the 21st Century (GEE 21) is defined as "criterion-referenced tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies assess student performance relative to specific benchmarks established in the state's content standards and provide data for evaluating student, school, and district performance. These high-stakes tests require high school students to meet established achievement levels to be eligible to receive a high school diploma.” (LAC 28:CXI.107)
The Louisiana Educational Assessment Program for the 21st Century (LEAP 21) assesses social studies skills at grades 4 & 8, based on the standards. (La. R.S. 17:24.4)
rev. 09/2008 |
Schools and districts receive a school/district performance score calculated using results of the Integrated Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (iLEAP) and Graduation Exit Exam (GEE 21) which include social studies, as well as attendance and dropout rates. (LAC 28:CXI.107)
rev. 09/2008 |
| Maine |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Maryland |
Maryland High School Assessments (HSA) are subject-specific end-of-course assessments based on the Core Learning Goals, including an assessment in government. Students are currently required to take the exams, but beginning with the class of 2009, passing the exams will be a requirement of graduation. (COMAR 13A.03.02.09)
rev. 09/2008 |
School report cards include aggregate school and district scores on the government High School Assessment.
rev. 09/2008 |
| Massachusetts |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
Assessments in history and social science, among other subjects, are one of the gauges used to evaluate the performance of both public school districts and individual schools. (ALM GL ch. 69, §1I)
rev. 09/2008 |
| Michigan |
The Michigan educational assessment program and the Michigan merit examination are based on the state recommended model core curriculum content standards. (MCL 380.1278)
Through the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), social studies assessments are administered in grades 6 and 9. The Michigan Merit Examination (MME), which assesses students in grade 11, includes “Michigan-developed assessments in mathematics, science, and social studies.” (Michigan Department of Education Web site)
rev. 09/2008 |
The school report card includes evaluations from middle schools and high schools in English language arts and mathematics with science and social studies added to the evaluated content areas. (Michigan Department of Education Web site)
rev. 09/2008 |
| Minnesota |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Mississippi |
Civic competencies are assessed through the Subject Area Testing Program (SATP) in the "U.S. history from 1877" end-of-course assessment.
Students “must pass all required Subject Area Tests in U.S. History from 1877.” (CMSR 36-000-001.3600)
rev. 09/2008 |
Results of the Subject Areas Testing Program (SATP) are included in the Mississippi Report Card.
rev. 09/2008 |
| Missouri |
Social studies testing in grades 4, 8 and 11 is voluntary.
“The commissioner of education shall direct the department of elementary and secondary education to insure that all school districts have a program of pupil testing which shall test competency in the subject areas of English, reading, language arts, science, mathematics, social studies and civics.” (§ 160.257 R.S.Mo.)
“The statewide assessment shall measure, where appropriate by grade level, a student's knowledge of academic subjects including, but not limited to, reading skills, writing skills, mathematics skills, world and American history, forms of government, geography and science.” (§160.518 R.S.Mo.)
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Montana |
“State-level assessments shall be administered to all students in grades four, eight and eleven in reading, communication arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.” (Mont. Admin. R. 10.56.101)
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Nebraska |
The Nebraska School-based Teacher-led Assessment and Reporting System (STARS) is a locally administered test for students in grades 4 or 5, 8, and 11 and includes social studies and history. “In order to reduce the amount of time and effort needed to assess and report social studies standards, a subset of social studies standards have been designated as STAR Standards for grade levels 2-4, 5-8, and 9-12. It is expected that all social studies standards will be taught, assessed, and reported at the local level. However only those standards identified as STAR Standards will be reported to the Nebraska Department of Education.” (STAR Social Studies/History Standards, Identified December 10, 2003)
Beginning in 2009, state reporting of student performance on social studies STAR Standards will be required at grade 4 or 5, grade 8, and grade 11. (Nebraska Department of Education, STARS Update #26, March 2008)
rev. 09/2008 |
Although testing is local, “beginning in 2009, state reporting of student performance on social studies STAR Standards will be required at grade 4 or 5, grade 8, and grade 11. (Nebraska Department of Education, STARS Update #26, March 2008)
rev. 09/2008 |
| Nevada |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| New Hampshire |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| New Jersey |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| New Mexico |
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a student shall not receive a New Mexico diploma of excellence if the student has not demonstrated competence in the subject areas of mathematics, reading and language arts, writing, social studies and science, including a section on the constitution of the United States and the constitution of New Mexico, based on a standards-based assessment or assessments or a portfolio of standards-based indicators established by the department by rule. The standards-based assessments required in Section 22-2C-4 NMSA 1978 may also serve as the assessment required for high school graduation. (N.M. State. Ann. §22.13.1.1 L)
“The academic assessment program for adequate yearly progress shall test student achievement as follows: (1) for grades three through eight and for grade eleven, standards-based assessments in mathematics, reading and language arts and social studies …” (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-2C-4 B)
“Until July 1, 2010, a student who has not passed a state graduation examination in the subject areas of reading, English, mathematics, writing, science and social science shall not receive a high school diploma. The state graduation examination on social science shall include a section on the constitution of the United States and the constitution of New Mexico.” (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-13-1.1-K)
“Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a student shall not receive a New Mexico diploma of excellence if the student has not demonstrated competence in the subject areas of mathematics, reading and language arts, writing, social studies and science, including a section on the constitution of the United States and the constitution of New Mexico, based on a standards-based assessment or assessments or a portfolio of standards-based indicators established by the department by rule.” (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-13-1.1-L)
rev. 09/2008 |
“The academic assessment program for adequate yearly progress shall test student achievement as follows: (1) for grades three through eight and for grade eleven, standards-based assessments in mathematics, reading and language arts and social studies …” (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-2C-4 B)
rev. 09/2008
|
| New York |
Social studies is tested in the 5th and 8th grades as well as in high school. (8NYCRR § 100.1)
rev. 09/2008 |
Assessments in U.S. History and Government (results of the Regents Examinations) are included in the New York State District Report Cards and in the New York State Report Card.
rev. 09/2008 |
| North Carolina |
End-of-course tests are required in social studies at the high school level in U.S. History and Civics and Economics. (16 N.C.A.C. 6D.0503.e.2B)
"The State Board of Education shall require that any high school level curriculum-based tests developed and administered statewide beginning with academic year 1990-91 include questions related to the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and its amendments, and the most important of the Federalist papers." (N.C. Gen. Stat. §115C.81.g.4)
Students are required to pass five end of course assessments, including an assessment in Civics and Economics. (North Carolina State Board of Education Policy GCS-C-010)
rev. 09/2009
|
Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, end-of-course test in Civics and Economics is included in the ABCs Growth Model and Performance Composite. (North Carolina State Board of Education Policy GCS-C-020)
rev. 09/2008 |
| North Dakota |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
No
rev. 09/2008 |
| Ohio |
Ohio Achievement Tests include social studies and are administered at the end of fifth grade and eighth grade. The Ohio Graduation Test, which measures social studies among subjects, is administered in 10th grade. Students who do not pass on their first attempt will retake the test during their junior and senior years. (Ohio Admin. Code §3301-13-01)
rev. 09/2008 |
District and school report cards include achievement test passage rates in social studies. (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §3302.03)
rev. 09/2008 |
| Oklahoma |
Assessments include end of course exams for U.S. history and geography. Social studies is assessed in grade 5 and 8 through the use of the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests. |
No |
| Oregon |
Civics and Government is a Score Reporting Category (SRC) of the Oregon Social Science Assessment. |
No |
| Pennsylvania |
No |
No |
| Rhode Island |
No |
No |
| South Carolina |
The Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT) include social studies assessments in grades 3-8.
Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, exit exams for high school US History and Constitution courses will be required. |
The school and district ratings reported in the South Carolina Annual School and District Report Cards (required by the Education Accountability Act of 1998) are calculated with student performance results on state assessments, which include social studies assessments. |
| South Dakota |
Students are assessed in social studies through the Stanford 10 test in grades 3-8 and 11. |
No |
| Tennessee |
The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program requires that students in grades 3-8 take the Achievement Test each spring. This test includes social studies skills. |
The Tennessee school report card gives the results for the social studies portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program Achievement Test. |
| Texas |
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) assesses students in social studies at grades 8, 10 & 11. The five social studies TAKS objectives, across grade levels, all include a citizenship component. For example, in grade 8, Objective 4 is “the student will demonstrate an understanding of political influences on historical issues and events,” and this includes “Citizenship: the student understands the importance of the expression of different points of view in a democratic society.” |
The Texas Education Agency publishes school and district Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills scores, including social studies, and rankings on its website. |
| Utah |
No |
No |
| Vermont |
No |
No |
| Virginia |
Students participate in the Virginia Standards of Learning assessments in grades 3, 5 and 8, which include a history/social science component. End-of-course assessments have been developed for certain high school history/social science courses. The state also requires that students in grades 4, 6 and 9 participate in Stanford 9 assessments, which include questions on social studies. |
The Virginia School Report Card includes results of Standards of Learning assessments in grades 3, 5, and 8, which include history/social science, and high school end-of-course assessments in history and social sciences. |
| Washington |
By the 2008-2009 school year, districts will be required to have assessments of some type, including classroom based assessments, to be administered to students in 4th or 5th, 7th or 8th, and 11th or 12th grades. Classroom based assessments in social studies have been piloted in selected districts by OSPI and are now available for classroom use. |
In development. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, districts will be required to annually submit an implementation verification report including results of the assessment. |
| West Virginia |
Social studies is tested in grades 3-8 and 10 through the West Virginia Education Standards Test. |
The results of the social studies portion of the West Virginia Educational Standards Test are reported annually in the West Virginia Measures of Academic Progress report. |
| Wisconsin |
Students are tested in social studies at grades 4, 8 and 10. The Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts exam is given to all three grades tested. Test content focuses on content chosen from the five social studies content standards. |
The annual Wisconsin School Performance Report includes the results from the social studies portion of the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examinations given to 4th, 8th, and 10th grade students. |
| Wyoming |
No |
No |