Social Studies

Social Studies is the interdisciplinary study of citizenship and government, economics, geography, history and other disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Social Studies empowers learners to become inquisitive, informed, and engaged members of society who use critical thinking, inquiry, and literacy to prepare for college, careers and civic life. 

Educator Edition Bulletin

The Educator Edition Bulletin/Newsletter is a monthly newsletter sent electronically by MDE with important Academic Standards information, research, and legislative updates. Subscribe to the Educator Edition Bulletin/Newsletter. 
 

Legislative Updates

The 2023 Minnesota legislative session resulted in legislation being passed with regard to education—including changes to state statutes that directly impact K-12 Social Studies education. 
Additionally, the 2023 Minnesota legislative session added Personal Finance as a graduation requirement beginning with students entering 9th grade in the 2024-25 school year. This guidance is a PDF that offers a summary of the changes, and an overview of frequently asked questions.
 

Education on the Holocaust, Genocide of Indigenous Peoples, and Other Genocides Working Group

In accordance with legislation in relating to education on the Holocaust, genocide of Indigenous Peoples and other genocides, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) put out an application for adults and students to join the Education on the Holocaust, Genocide of Indigenous Peoples and Other Genocides (HGIP) Working Group. The working group is charged with creating resources, and resource recommendations for the teaching of genocide in alignment with the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies, and recommendations for professional development related to the requirements for genocide education passed by the legislature. The working group will include social studies and English language arts teachers, university faculty with expertise in genocide studies, pre-service program faculty, and representatives of Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations, community groups, and sovereign nations whose missions include educating about and honoring the victims and survivors of displacement, genocide, and mass violence. Dates for the working group can be found in the Education on the Holocaust, Genocide of Indigenous Peoples and Other Genocides Working Group Assumptions.  

The working group members are listed in the Holocaust, Genocide of Indigenous People Working Group Members Document.
 

Personal Finance Working Group

In support of the personal finance legislation passed in the 2023 legislative session, MDE put out an application for a Personal Finance Working Group. The working group will be responsible for developing guidance to support districts and schools in implementing the personal finance graduation requirement. The working group will include social studies, math, business education, family and consumer science, and agriculture, food and natural resources teachers, recent high school graduates, current Minnesota school administrators, and pre-service program faculty. Dates for the working group can be found in the Personal Finance Working Group Assumptions.. 

The working group members are listed in the 2023 Personal Finance Working Group Member document. 


Social Studies Review

In accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Minnesota’s academic standards are reviewed and revised on a 10-year cycle. During the 2020-21 school year, the Minnesota Department of Education began the process of reviewing and revising the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies. The 2021 Minnesota K-12 Social Studies Standards (Commissioner Approved Draft) is now available. The 2021 Academic Standards in Social Studies have finished the rulemaking process. 

Each content area includes an implementation date in the adopted rule language. The K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies will be fully implemented in the 2026-27 school year. 


Standards, Assessments, and Graduation Requirements 

2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies—Effective March 11, 2024

The 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies were adopted in 2024, and are scheduled for full implementation in the 2026-27 school year. Resources supporting implementation of the 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies are available on our Social Studies Implementation Webpage. 

 
Academic Standards in Social Studies 2011
The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies 2011 were adopted in 2012 and were to be implemented by the 2013-14 school year. 

Graduation Requirements

State statute requires that all public school students in Minnesota satisfactorily complete all Social Studies standards and their corresponding benchmarks in order to graduate (Minn. Stat. 120B.024, sub 1(5) [2022])

Students are also required to satisfactorily complete three and one-half (3.5) credits of social studies, encompassing at least U.S. history, world history, geography, government and citizenship, and economics sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in social studies.
 
Grade- specific benchmarks in grades K-8 are mandated by law. Thus, they must be addressed in the specific grade where they are assigned. The Social Studies standards contain grade-specific standards for each of the four main disciplines. 
 
The high school Social Studies standards are banded and must be taught within the grade span of 9-12. 

At any grade level, the benchmarks from multiple disciplines can be combined to facilitate integrated, or interdisciplinary, learning experiences. 

The standards represent the minimum requirements; schools may offer courses in additional disciplines, including psychology, sociology, archaeology, and anthropology. 
 

Civics Test

Minnesota does not have a test in social studies. According to state statute, the Commissioner is forbidden to develop statewide assessments for academic standards in social studies, health and physical education, and the arts (Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.30, subdivision 1(a)).

In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature repealed the civics test requirement. Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, districts will no longer need to administer the civics test (Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.02, subdivision 3).
 

Credit Equivalencies

A one-half credit of economics taught in a school’s agriculture education or business department may fulfill a one-half credit in social studies if the credit is sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in economics (Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.024, subdivision 2(a))


Professional Learning and Upcoming Events

Upcoming events will be listed as they become available. 

 

Resources for Instruction and Learning

Collaboration

The Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education (CSSE) is a collaboration of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the following statewide organizations to promote excellence in social studies education. CSSE supports educators with social studies standards implementation, research-based instructional strategies for K-12 educators, resources, and opportunities for professional development:
 
  

Standards and Related Information

Standards

2021 Standards Review Committee Information