Bulletin 014-21
Action Required: due date June 30, 2021
2020–21 Instruction and Assessment Reporting Requirements for the Arts, Educational Technology, Health and Physical Education, and Social Studies
For the 2020–21 school year, school districts are required to report assessment information using the specified links for each content area by June 30 (see Reporting Links in the bulletin). The annual reporting system is now open online for districts to begin entering information for this school year.
For more information, visit the reporting website.
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 Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world problems with personal and community relevance. PBL promotes the authentic integration of multiple subject areas and skills.
OSPI is offering short-term planning grants for Spring 2021. Funds will support planning and resources to design summer PBL experiences that focus on a relevant community issue or problem.
These summer experiences will become a model for future development of 9 week PBL modules that will be openly licensed and shared via the Washington OER Hub.
Download the Planning Grant Request for Proposals
Attend the grant walkthrough
April 26, 2021 | 4:00 pm–4:30 pm
See this flyer for other OER Grant Opportunities
 Do you know an AMAZING History Educator?
We have many in Washington State and they deserve our recognition.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is seeking nominations for the Washington History Teacher of the Year. State History Teachers of the Year receive the following:
- A $1,000 award from GLI,
- An archive of materials for their school’s library, and,
- An invitation to attend a 2021 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar
The deadline for 2021 nominations is April 30, 2021. Find additional information and the nomination form here.
The Daniel J. Evans Civic Education Award Program would like to showcase Washington students!
Do you know a student who shines as a leader in the classroom, school, or community, and has successfully completed an OSPI-Developed Civics Assessment?
OSPI is now accepting applications for the Daniel J. Evans Civic Education Award for the 2020-21 school year. If you are interested in nominating one or more of your students, please complete this survey and attach the student’s OSPI-developed assessment when prompted. Deadline to submit is June 30.
Visit our website for more information.
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From Reflection to Action: Teaching for Civic Agency
Offered in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves.
Thursday, May 6 | 3:30 - 5:30pm (PT)
2 Clock Hours
Racism, antisemitism, and other forms of bigotry—which were at the root of so much of the inhumanity of the twentieth century—have not gone away. How does learning about the history of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust educate us about our responsibilities in the world today? What must individuals do and value in order to bring about a more humane, just, and compassionate world and a more democratic society? Visit HCH to learn more about this event.
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 The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is pleased to announce the availability of two writer/curriculum development positions for their Native Knowledge 360° (NK 360) education initiative. These are two-year positions with the possibility of extension. The NMAI will consider allowing remote work outside the Washington, DC region for the right candidates. Find out more about this program.
Applications will be accepted through May 21. Apply or inquire via email: NMAI-HumanResources@si.edu
TACOMA, Wash – Applications are open for the annual IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts exhibition, held each summer at the Washington State History Museum. The deadline for artists to submit work for consideration is May 7. APPLY TODAY, view the guidelines, or read the press release.
Third Thursday is Back!
The History Museum is open 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM on the third Thursday of every month. Admission is FREE from 3:00-8:00 PM.
Learn more about their exhibit Just The Ticket: Train Travel in Washington State, now through August 22, or Visit the Washington State History Museum for information and other events.
Third Thursday is generously supported by Columbia Bank.
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WSHS Nominations for Annual History Awards
Teachers, Researchers, Historians, Culture-connectors
Nominations are still open for the annual History Awards bestowed by the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS). These prestigious awards recognize excellence in advancing the field of history in the state of Washington through writing, teaching, historic projects, and understanding cultural diversity.
Anyone can submit a nomination. If you, your organization, or someone you know would be a deserving recipient for one of the awards, please submit a nomination by April 30, 2021. Details and nomination forms can be found at Washington State Historical Society's website or you can view the press release.
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A free, online social studies conference for K-12 brought to you by the OER Project.
Join thousands of educators online August 3-5, 2021 to discuss how our world has changed and the impact on teaching practices as we reenter the classroom. We’ll explore what history can tell us about this moment, how our view of citizenship has shifted, and what teachers should consider as they shift their practice to meet the challenge. The virtual event includes three keynote sessions, eight live discussions, and close to 70 Track Talks from K-12 educators on key social studies topics. You’ll leave this conference with fresh ideas you can integrate into your teaching practice this Fall, and a community of support to help.
Learn more and register >
View the recordings from last year (2020).
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Civic Reasoning & Discourse
The aim of the National Academy of Education (NAEd) Educating for Civic Reasoning and Discourse report is to better prepare students to examine and discuss complex civic, political, and social issues by ensuring that the curricula, pedagogy, and learning environments that they experience are informed by the best available evidence and practice. This includes identifying opportunities to learn from well-established areas of interdisciplinary research on human learning and development, as well as current exemplars of instruction. Visit NEA to learn more.
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“How can we create powerful social studies for all learners?”
Dr. Bonnie Laughlin-Schultz, social science teaching coordinator and an associate professor of history at Eastern Illinois University, posed this essential question to her students.
"This inquiry-based curriculum prepared students to design their own inquiry unit that reflected the proven practices of civic education embedded in the course requirements including current and controversial issue discussions and service learning." Read more about teaching powerful social studies with service learning.
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 Civics as a National Security Imperative:
A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil M. Gorsuch
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the National Security Institute (NSI) at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School invite you to a conversation with Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Neil Gorsuch on the importance of civic education as a national security imperative. In a global environment where liberal democracies are facing a crisis of confidence and where authoritarian regimes work to threaten the foundational premise of the rule of law, it is essential that the American public understands why and how the justice system is fundamental to securing our democracy. Watch the conversation.
 Breaking News:
WA Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven González will be the next guest on TVW's CONNECTS! CONNECTS gathers student questions from around the state for a virtual Q&A which airs on TVW. Question submissions are due May 6th. Teach with TVW is a free resource for teachers to integrate into their civics curriculum.
LEARN HOW TO PARTICIPATE
The Judges in the Classroom program provides Washington teachers with the opportunity to request that a judge visit their classroom at any time during the year.
During classroom visits, judges present age-appropriate lessons (prepared by teachers and judges together), featuring state law and practice, to K-12 students. The lessons are interactive and provide students with a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the legal and judicial systems as well as the basic concept of fairness.
Lesson plans and supporting materials are free for both teachers and judges and are easily accessible to download. The curriculum is intended to engage students in active discussions, courtroom simulations and role-playing. Students also use critical thinking to analyze and discuss the cases. Judges are available throughout the year!
For questions and to learn more about the program, click here: JUDGES IN THE CLASSROOM FLYER, and to request a Judge for your classroom, click here: REQUEST A JUDGE IN THE CLASSROOM.
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The Civics Renewal Network is excited to welcome two new partners! Launched by New Hampshire Public Radio in 2017, Civics 101 Podcast is the podcast refresher course on the basics of how our government works. Hosts Nick Capodice and Hannah McCarthy take an expansive view of civics, exploring not only the institutions of government but also the rights and responsibilities of citizens no matter their age. Episodes are about 15 minutes and released every other Tuesday along with related educational resources. View the full newsletter.
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The ABOTA Foundation is hosting a National Teachers Law School on July 28-29. The Foundation’s Teachers Law School program is committed to equipping civics education teachers with the tools and resources they need to succeed in teaching civics to our next generation.
This program will be held virtually over two days with many notable speakers lined up to bring awareness to social justice issues so teachers can be prepared both inside and outside the classroom. Register for NTLS 2021 FREE virtual conference.
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Do you have a good story to share?
OSPI is seeking stories that recognize Social Studies educators doing good work in grades K-12. We encourage administrators and educators to submit stories of districts, schools, classrooms, or community organizations promoting Social Studies. Send your story to SocialStudies@k12.wa.us.
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