The DC State Board of Education (SBOE) is pleased to announce the selection of its Social Studies Standards Advisory Committee. The State Board, in partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), will begin its review and update of the District’s statewide social studies standards next month. The standards were last reviewed in 2006 and pre-date the existence of both the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and the State Board of Education.
In July 2019, the State Board passed resolution SR19-7, committing the agency and State Board to increase research and support for specific public education issues—including the review, revision, and update of the District’s social studies standards. The resolution declares that revised and updated social studies standards should be “culturally inclusive and anti-racist, impart important social studies content in the early grades, strengthen student knowledge of democratic principles and values, and promote civic engagement.”
To conduct this substantive review, the State Board is convening a Social Studies Standards Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will be responsible for drafting guiding principles and making recommendations to the State Board and to OSSE on how the state standards should be revised and updated to reflect the needs of students and teachers in the District. To reach our goal of revised standards that better serve our District, diversity was a vital component of our selection process—ensuring that this Advisory Committee is reflective of the schools and residents of each ward, as well as the expertise of both school-based and non-school based individuals. After receiving over 100 applications, the State Board has selected a diverse and knowledgeable cohort of Pre-K–12 teachers and curriculum experts, school district leaders, parents, students, higher education personnel, and experts from organizations in relevant social science fields.
We are honored to announce the members of the Social Studies Standards Advisory Committee:
| Name | School, Organization or Position |
| Alexander O'Sullivan | BASIS DC PCS, Student |
| Alyssa Richardson | Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Student |
| Barbara Davidson | StandardsWork, Inc., President |
| Daniel Espinas | DCPS, Teacher |
| Elizabeth A. Worden, PhD | American University, Associate Professor |
| Emily Brimsek | National Center on Education and the Economy, Manager, Professional Learning |
| Fadhal Moore | Georgetown University, MPP Candidate |
| Jennifer DePaoli | Learning Policy Institute, Senior Researcher |
| Jessica A. Rucker | EL Haynes High School PCS, Teacher |
| Karen Hopkins | Human Rights Educators USA, DC Area Representative |
| Karen Lee | Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS, Teacher |
| Lamar James Bethea | Statesmen College Preparatory Academy, Teacher |
| Laura Fuchs | HD Woodson High School, Teacher |
| Lauren Grimes | The Community Enrichment Project, Founder |
| Maria Marable-Bunch | National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Associate Director for Museum Learning and Programs |
| Melanie R. Holmes | MacFarland Middle School, Teacher |
| Michael Stevens | Friendship PCS, Director of Social Studies |
| Molly France | Two Rivers PCS, Instructional Guide |
| Molly Sloss | Capitol Hill Montessori School, Teacher |
| Nicolas Ojeda | Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Teacher |
| Rebecca Schouvieller | DC International School PCS, Teacher |
| Reginald L. Williams | Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Social Studies Teacher |
| Sally Schwartz | Globalize DC, Executive Director |
| Sarah Buscher | Janney Elementary School, Teacher |
| Scott Abbott | DCPS, Office of Teaching and Learning, Director of Social Studies |
| Shelina Warren | Dunbar High School, Teacher |
The first meeting of the Social Studies Standards Advisory Committee will take place virtually, Tuesday, July 7, 2020 from 5 - 7 pm. The meeting will be open to the public and can be livestreamed by visiting the State Board’s YouTube page. Please follow the work of the State Board as we continue our work in creating quality and equitable education for our students.