Social Studies

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The Oklahoma Academic Standards for the Social Studies, Pre-K - 12, and the framework set forth a challenging and focused course of study and is designed to lay the groundwork for citizenship development.

• Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies
• Social Studies Frameworks

Due to a recent ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is initiating a formal review of the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies. The OSDE is committed to ensuring that all academic standards continue to support high-quality instruction for Oklahoma students. 

All feedback received during the public comment period will be reviewed by the OSDE and executive committee for consideration in the revision process.

Below is the anticipated timeline for the revision process:

*The public comment period was shortened for this review. 
For more information about the standards review process, contact Brenda Beymer-Chapman, Project Manager, Social Studies and PFL at brenda.chapman@sde.ok.gov.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, Holocaust education shall be taught to students in grades six through twelve in public schools in this state, as prescribed in the Oklahoma Academic Standards. Holocaust education may be integrated into one or more existing courses of study and shall be taught in a manner that:

1. Generates an understanding of the causes, course, and effects of the Holocaust;
2. Develops dialogue with students on the ramifications of bullying, bigotry, stereotyping, and discrimination; and
3. Encourages tolerance of diversity and reverence for human dignity for all citizens in a pluralistic society.

70 O.S. § 11-103.6o

To support school districts in meeting the new Holocaust Education requirements, resources related to the causes, series of events, and effects of the Holocaust can be found here and sources related to the Nuremberg Trials can be found here. Additional resources supporting the implementation of the Oklahoma Academic Standards for grades 6-12 can be found in the Oklahoma Curriculum Frameworks and the Holocaust Resource page.

House Bill 2265 becomes effective November 1, 2023. This bill allows high schools to offer a law enforcement elective and tasks the SDE with creation of its materials and curricula.

• Section 1(A): A school district is allowed to provide an elective course in law enforcement to eleventh- and twelfth-grade students.
• Section 1(B): The elective course in law enforcement must cover the basics of law enforcement training, the skills and entry requirements necessary to become a law enforcement professional, and the career opportunities available in law enforcement.
• Section 1(C): The State Board of Education can collaborate with the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training to develop instructional materials and curricula for school districts to use in the law enforcement elective course.

New law at: 70 O.S. § 11-103.15

Contact Brenda Beymer-Chapman for curricular resources.

US Federal Law Requires Lessons on Constitution: Pub. L. 108-447, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Dec. 8, 2004; 118 Stat. 2809, 3344-45, “Each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.”

• 100 Milestone Document
• Bill of Rights Institute
• Center for Civic Education
• Charters of Freedom
• Citizenship Resource Center
• National Constitution Center
  
• Lesson Plans - Constitutional Rights Foundation
• Library of Congress
• National Archives
• The Constitution for Kids (K-3)
• Today's Congress - Dirksen Center

Celebrate Freedom  an Oklahoma Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2001, Section 24-152, which relates to Veterans Day in public schools; designating Celebrate Freedom Week. Read the full bill.

• AETN Resources
• American Bar Association
• American Heritage Education Foundation
• Ben’s Guide to Government
• Bill of Rights Institute
• Center for Civic Education
• Teach Democracy (formerly Constitutional Rights Foundation)
• C-Span in the Classroom
• Declaration of Independence Performed
• National Archives
• National Constitution Center
• Texas Law-Related Education

Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, the State Department of Education shall identify resources and provide examples of lesson plans designed to help teachers provide instruction regarding the events of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1968. The resources should cover the natural law and nonviolent resistance strategies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and include a unit on other forms of discriminatory injustice such as genocide. These resources reaffirm the state's commitment to reject bigotry, promote equal protection under the law, and act against injustice wherever it may occur.

The resources can be taught as a stand-alone unit of instruction or integrated into existing courses. 70 O.S. § 11-103.6p

The following resources have been approved for use in the instruction of the Civil Rights Movement:

• Civil Rights: A Global Perspective
• Teacher Created Materials

Additional resources supporting the instruction of the Civil Rights Movement can be found in the Introduction to the Oklahoma Social Studies Framework.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education is providing Oklahoma schools The Story of America, a new US History supplemental resources for middle and high school students developed to enhance civic literacy. These resources are aligned with Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies.  Find more information here..

Oklahoma districts can sign up for the The Story of America here.

• Affordable Colleges Online
• Fund for Teachers/Colonial Williamsburg Institute - Oklahoma
• Gilder Lehrman
• James Madison Foundation
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• Oklahoma Humanities Council
• Teacher Institute at Mt. Vernon
• Teaching American History

Subscribe to the Social Studies Newsletter here.

Brenda Beymer-Chapman, J.D.
Project Manager, Social Studies and Personal Financial Literacy
(405) 522-3523