To ensure our students are prepared for college, career, and civic life, Arizona has adopted new History & Social Science
Standards that foster a rigorous and relevant K-12 education.
In a government where the final authority and sovereignty rests with the people, our local, state, and federal governments
will only be as responsive as the citizens demand them to be. Preparing students for contemporary society cannot be
accomplished without a strong emphasis on civics, economics, geography, and history – the core disciplines of the social
sciences. It is imperative that each generation gains an understanding of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to
participate fully in civic life. Engaging students in the pursuit of active, informed citizenship will require a broad range of
understandings and skills by thinking analytically, reading widely and critically, and communicating cogently in a
compelling manner.