The primary purpose of the prekindergarten through high school social studies program is to help young people understand, through the study of the past and present, what it means to be a human being in society and develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world of finite resources. Social studies is a vital part of the curriculum as it embraces the context within which future adults will act as they apply the knowledge and skills gained from the rest of their school experiences. These future adults must be knowledgeable, thoughtful, participating citizens in many contexts: as members of families, as producers and consumers in the marketplace, as participants in associations, as constituents of different levels of governments, and as members of the global community. They should be able to use their knowledge and skills to solve problems and make decisions.

Social studies is more than a collection of separate disciplines to be offered in a piecemeal fashion throughout a child's schooling. Social studies utilizes the integrated study of social sciences and humanities to accomplish its aims. Economics, geography, government, history, and sociology form a framework so that the skills and methodologies of social studies can contribute to real-life learning opportunities.

This integrated study is articulated across grade levels to achieve the purpose of the program, the promotion of civic competence. Civic competence means the ability and desire to be fully engaged in the activities of society. This requires the development of appropriate knowledge, utilization of participatory skills, and adherence to democratic principles.

All children can learn the concepts, skills, and habits of mind associated with the social studies. Social studies should enable all learners to develop their abilities to the utmost. The stimuli we expect students to use to create knowledge should be developmentally appropriate for the ages of the students involved. The skills we expect students to use should be experienced and practiced repeatedly in relevant situations. And the democratic principles we expect students to apply should be internalized. The social studies program must engage learners in situations which call upon their knowledge, require them to use their skills, and ask them to respond according to democratic principles.