Illinois Social Science Standards
The Illinois Learning Standards define what all students in all Illinois public schools should know and be able to do in the six core areas as a result of their elementary and secondary schooling.
Social Science Mandates
On December 16, 2015, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) adopted amendments to rules governing Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision (23 Illinois Administrative Code 1), which included the new Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science. This standards are derived from the College, Career & Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
The rule-making became effective on January 27, 2016, and provided that school districts must fully implement the new standards by the 2017-18 school year. The purpose of these new, more rigorous standards is to better prepare students to be college and career ready.
Standards by Grade Level
- Kindergarten | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Middle School (6-8) | High School (9-12)
To support your Scope and Sequence planning for 2021-2022, visit the Knowledge Center for grades 6-12 Social Science Scope and Sequence Guidance.
Literacy Connections to the Illinois Social Science Standards
Common Core State Standards for History/Social Science: These standards begin at grade 6; standards for K-5 reading in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects are integrated into the K-5 Reading standards. The CCR anchor standards and high school standards in literacy work in tandem to define college and career readiness expectations—the former providing broad standards, the latter providing additional specificity.
Social Science Standards with Literacy Connections: The following grade level documents were created to assist social science teachers in identifying cross-curricular standard connections as they implement the Illinois Social Science Standards into their curriculum.
- Resource Introduction - Social Science and Literacy Connections
- Kindergarten | First Grade | Second Grade | Third Grade | Fourth Grade | Fifth Grade | 6-8th Grade | 9-12th Grade
Social Science Mandates
You can find information regarding policies that mandate content and/or curriculum that must be addressed in the Chicago Public Schools in our Mandate Implementation Guide for Social Science and Civic Engagement.
For additional information on the requirements listed below, please see the CPS minimum graduation policy, the Illinois State Social Science Learning Standards, and the Illinois Classrooms in Action guidance on state mandates in Social Science.