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Social Studies Update: June 2026

K-12 Social Studies

This update includes reminders for K-12 Social Studies and information from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). We encourage everyone who receives this update to share it with others who may not be subscribed to our listserv. If you would like to receive Social Studies Updates, please sign up using the following link: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NCSBE/subscriber/new?qsp=CODE_RED

Update includes:

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

• Summer Professional Development for ALL Content Areas at the NCDPI Growing Success for MLs and The Standards Academy
• Social Studies Sessions at the Standards Academy and the Growing Success for MLs Conference
• NextGen Personal Finance: Attend FinCamp in Raleigh on June 23 and Earn a $100 Stipend!
• The Weitzman Museum - Educator PD
• Apply: NAEP Civics Assessment Framework Development Panel
• 2026 Belfer National Conference for Holocaust Education
• Civic Health Summit
• NC Holocaust Education Survey
• Teacher Workshop | From Aycock to Integration: Tracing the Roots of Public Education in North Carolina

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

• Podcasting Democracy: Understanding the Constitution to Inspire Civic Change

AWARDS, GRANTS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

• NC Connect

OFFICE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING: NEWS & UPDATES

• Registration for the NC Comprehensive Arts Education Conference Opens This Month

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Summer Professional Development for ALL Content Areas at the NCDPI Growing Success for MLs and The Standards Academy Register today and discover how small shifts in instruction can make a big difference for all learners. Join NCDPI’s Office of Teaching and Learning this summer for a dynamic, no-cost professional learning experience designed for all K–12 educators. Whether you teach social studies, ELA, math, science, or electives, the NCDPI Growing Success for MLs and The Standards Academy will provide practical strategies you can use right away to support the diverse learners in your classroom. Why This Conference Matters for You: Built for Every Content Area – Learn how to make your lessons more accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all students, including multilingual learners, without changing what you teach—just how you teach it. Two Conferences, One Experience – Access sessions from both the Growing Success for Multilingual Learners Conference and The Standards Academy—all in one place. Choose what fits your needs and interests. Ready-to-Use Strategies – Walk away with instructional practices, tools, and ideas that work across subjects, including social studies, to strengthen student understanding and participation. Collaborate and Connect – Learn alongside educators from across the state and share ideas you can bring back to your school or team. June 23 - 25 at Cleveland High School in Johnston County July 13 - 16 online  Bring a Team. Broaden Your Impact. Consider attending with colleagues to strengthen alignment and collaboration across your school.

NCDPI Social Studies Session at Standards Academy    Whether you are new to teaching social studies or a veteran educator looking for fresh ideas, the Social Studies session at the Standards Academy will help you move beyond simply "covering the standards" to creating meaningful learning experiences that engage students and promote deeper understanding. Participants will: Unpack the intent behind the NC Social Studies Standards Explore practical strategies for aligning instruction, assessment, and inquiry Learn how to design lessons that promote critical thinking and student engagement Discover ready-to-use resources that save planning time Walk away with ideas that can be implemented immediately in the classroom The Social Studies session at the Standards Academy is perfect for classroom teachers, instructional coaches, district leaders, and anyone seeking to strengthen social studies teaching and learning.

NCDPI Social Studies Session at the Growing Success for MLs Conference

Social studies texts expose students to significantly more academic vocabulary than many other content areas.

In our sessions at the Growing Success for MLs Conference, participants will explore practical strategies for helping students:

• Access complex texts
• Build academic vocabulary
• Analyze primary and secondary sources
• Develop critical thinking skills
• Engage in meaningful inquiry

These strategies support multilingual learners while strengthening learning opportunities for all students.

NextGen Personal Finance: Attend FinCamp in Raleigh on June 23 and Earn a $100 Stipend!   Next Gen Personal Finance is bringing FinCamps to 25 cities nationwide this summer, including Raleigh, NC.  FinCamp is a full day of in-person professional development where Economics and Personal Finance teachers experience the NGPF curriculum as a student, strengthen personal finance knowledge, and leave with concrete strategies for the upcoming year. It's also a great opportunity to network with other personal finance teachers. FinCamps are completely free, including breakfast and lunch. This year, attendees will receive a $100 stipend. Additionally, attendees can earn 3 graduate credits through a partnership with Bridgewater State University. Spots fill up quickly each year! Save your seat here. WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE FINCAMP Agenda Presenter: Yanely Espinal, Author and NGPF Director of Educational Outreach Bring your laptop and charger Free breakfast and lunch provided Complimentary Parking Continue the learning with a graduate course through Bridgewater State University! For details and registration information, visit BSU's website  Event Details *Attendance is required for the full event. Date: Tue, Jun 23, 2026     Time: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM  Cost: FREE Location: William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation (Raleigh, NC) Room: Wachovia Innovation Hall AB Address: 1890 Main Campus Dr, Raleigh, NC 27606

The Weitzman Museum - Educator PD

Date: Monday, June 22, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Jewish for Good - Levin JCC 1937 W. Cornwallis Rd, Durham, NC 27705

Join us for a free, full-day professional development opportunity for educators across North Carolina. Led by an expert educator from the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, this training introduces Stories That Shaped a Nation, a standards-aligned curriculum that brings diverse Jewish voices, stories, and histories into the classroom.

The curriculum is designed to integrate Jewish history into public school social studies classrooms. This day of learning will provide an overview of the curriculum, focusing on the themes, issues, stories, and voices it includes, while showcasing its resources. The workshop will explore the civic, artistic, and cultural dimensions of Jewish peoplehood in America while describing the power of these voices in classrooms.

Lessons and discussions will focus on Jewish identity and diversity, antisemitism in the United States, social change movements, and teaching through pluralism through windows and mirrors.  Participants will leave with ready-to-use, grade-appropriate lessons and the tools to facilitate them with confidence. This training is free of charge.

Lunch and continuing education units are provided. Hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council at Jewish for Good, in partnership with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and The Stan Greenspon Holocaust Education Center. Questions on this opportunity? Email arosenbloom@jewishforgood.org

Apply: NAEP Civics Assessment Framework Development Panel

The Governing Board is looking for panelists to serve on the NAEP Civics Assessment Framework Development Panel, an opportunity to update and shape the content knowledge and skills assessed on the NAEP Civics Assessment.

The Board seeks stakeholders with a variety of experiences and perspectives and who come from across the U.S. The Board expects to invite 20 individuals to serve on the panel, including:

• 4th, 8th, and 12th grade civics teachers 
• Academic and research experts 
• Curriculum specialists 
• State social studies specialists 
• District social studies specialists 
• Assessment experts, particularly those with civics assessment experience
• Teachers who are selected are eligible for a $500 stipend.

Applications open on June 1, and the deadline to apply is June 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

What to expect:

• Submit a resume or CV. 
• Answer a series of questions related to professional background and experience in civics education and assessment. 
• Finalists will be contacted by the Board by August. 

2026 Belfer National Conference for Holocaust Education June 22-24, 2026   The 2026 Belfer National Conference will be held online from June 22 to 24, 2026. By attending this free online conference, you will gain impactful strategies for delivering accurate and meaningful Holocaust education to all students. With guidance from experienced historians and educators, explore how to bring artifacts from the Museum’s collection into your classroom. Inspire all students to think critically about how and why the Holocaust happened using lessons and resources that support instruction across subject areas. Conference sessions will cover a variety of topics, including teaching Holocaust history and literature using primary source artifacts, modifying instruction for different student needs, and examining new research that enhances our understanding of history. Free Resources You will receive books in the mail that will be referenced during the conference, along with other classroom resources. (Available for teachers with a US or US territory mailing address only. While supplies last.) Benefits Participation is easy, free, and accessible for all. Real-time attendance isn’t necessary; participate during live sessions or watch recordings later.  Learning can continue after the conference, with six months to further explore featured content on your personal dashboard. Earn 24 hours of professional development.

Civic Health Summit June 29, 2026 Elon University, Moseley Center 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Civic health is the extent to which residents are informed, connected, engaged, and empowered to shape the future of their community. The 2024 North Carolina Civic Health Index revealed both strengths and significant room for improvement in civic health and civic culture in our state.

North Carolinians will come together for the second year in a row to learn, explore, and discuss ways to strengthen civic life in North Carolina. Sessions will highlight best practices, tools, and models to ensure residents are better informed, connected, engaged, and empowered to shape the future of our state. The day will include creativity, conversations, connection, and civic joy as North Carolinians continue to co-create and develop the Civic Health NC initiative. Registration is free, but space is limited. Who Should Attend? Students and young leaders Educators Nonprofit professionals Public Officials Community & Neighborhood leaders Artists Business & Philanthropic Leaders ANY resident who cares about North Carolina’s future!

The survey should take only a few minutes to complete. Please take a moment to share your thoughts and help guide the future of Holocaust education programming in North Carolina.

Teacher Workshop | From Aycock to Integration: Tracing the Roots of Public Education in North Carolina

Date: Wednesday, July 15th, 2026 | 10am - 4pm

Location: Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site, 264 Governor Aycock Rd NE, Fremont, NC, 27830

Attending teachers will receive a $100 stipend + Lunch + .5 CEUs

Join the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) for a special professional development workshop for educators at the Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace.

Charles B. Aycock, North Carolina’s 50th governor from 1901 to 1905, is often remembered as the “Education Governor” for his early 20th-century advocacy for expanding public schooling. His administration promoted increased school funding, longer academic terms, and improved facilities. Yet Aycock was also a central architect of Jim Crow policies, and the reforms he championed strengthened a segregated system that disproportionately benefited white communities. These decisions shaped the trajectory of public education in North Carolina for decades, influencing inequities that continued well into the mid‑20th century desegregation era following Brown v. Board.

Middle and high school teachers are invited to explore this history at the Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site in Fremont, a site offering a powerful opportunity to explore this complex legacy through place‑based learning. The preserved homestead grounds help illuminate the world in which Aycock was raised and provide an authentic environment for examining how his background, values, and political choices influenced the development of North Carolina’s segregated school system. With a focus on primary sources, critical thinking activities, and place-based learning, teachers will spend the day engaging with real stories in real spaces, gaining strategies that build empathy and help students understand how decisions made in earlier eras still shape their communities today.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 26th

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

Podcasting Democracy: Understanding the Constitution to Inspire Civic Change Take a fresh approach to teaching the Constitution and Bill of Rights with new units: Podcasting Democracy. Students examine how Constitutional principles have been shaped by the voices of Americans throughout history, then build their civic voice through podcast creation for a public audience. Podcasting Democracy at a Glance Two Units Middle School, aligned with U.S. history. High School, aligned with government and civics courses. Resources: Daily lesson slides Lesson plans Graphic organizers and text sets Rubrics Media project implementation materials The opportunity for students to share their podcasts on the KQED Youth Media Challenge Showcase, and with stakeholders in their communities Free Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities to support you with using these reources in the fall, including a thorough unit overview and hands-on audio production. You are invited to sign up for the workshop(s) that will work best for your schedule and location. June 23 (online): Podcasting Democracy: Understanding the Constitution to Inspire Civic Change July 21 (online with edWebinar): Teaching the Constitution? Explore Podcasting to Connect Past and Present!

AWARDS, GRANTS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

2026-2027 NC College Connect YOUR MOMENT IS COMING. DON’T LET IT PASS YOU BY! With NC College Connect, you will be directly admitted to participating colleges and universities where you already meet admissions requirements. No essays, test scores, or recommendation letters needed. Yes, it’s that easy. NC College Connect is a program that directly admits North Carolina public high school seniors on track to graduate to participating UNC System universities, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, and their local North Carolina community college, where they already meet admissions requirements. Have a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher? The higher your GPA, the more schools to which you’ll be directly admitted. Questions? Email nccollegeconnect@dpi.nc.gov. More info for current Juniors! Program Overview and List of Participating Institutions for 2026-2027 Superintendent Green's NC College Connect Message to Students

NCDPI OFFICE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING:

NEWS & UPDATES

Registration for the NC Comprehensive Arts Education Conference

Register to attend the Fall Comprehensive Arts Education Conference, Saturday, September 26th at PECK Expeditionary Learning School, in Greensboro, NC!

This day-long conference serves as a statewide professional development opportunity for dance, music, theatre, and visual arts educators, district arts education leaders, teaching artists, arts integration specialists, and pre-service teachers from across North Carolina working in K-12 programs, independent studios, performing arts organizations, and higher education institutions.

The mission of this conference is to support the three essential components of the North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Model: Arts Education, Arts Integration, and Arts Exposure. Sessions will be centered on the four K-12 Arts Education Standards core strands of Connect, Create, Present, and Respond to reinforce the 2024 standard course of study.

This event is proudly supported by the North Carolina Music Educators Association. All conference participants will receive a boxed lunch and a NC CAEC T-shirt with registration. Stay tuned for future posts about this event on Facebook and Instagram!

Connect with K-12 Social Studies on Instagram and Facebook! We’re excited to announce that the NCDPI K–12 Social Studies team now has NEW social media channels!  Follow us for the latest updates, professional learning opportunities, classroom resources, and stories highlighting the incredible work of educators and students across North Carolina. Follow Us Here: Instagram: @NCDPI_Social_Studies Facebook: NCDPI Social Studies Plus, stay connected with our Character Education initiatives: Instagram: @NCDPI_Character_Education Facebook: NCDPI Character Education

Disclaimer Statement

Because North Carolina is a local-control state, all curricular decisions are approved at the local level. Prior to implementing any of the materials, teachers should follow appropriate policies and procedures to have content vetted and approved by their school and district leaders. 

The links on this resource could bring you to third-party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control. Any link you make to or from these 3rd Party Websites will be at your own risk. Any use of these 3rd Party Websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy, and security.

Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd Party Websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd Party Websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations, or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd Party Website.