Social Studies

Social Studies is the interdisciplinary study of citizenship and government, economics, geography, history and other disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Social Studies empowers learners to become inquisitive, informed, and engaged members of society who use critical thinking, inquiry, and literacy to prepare for college, careers and civic life. 

Standards, Assessments and Graduation Requirements

Standards

The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards are the statewide expectations for student learning in public schools. The standards supplemented by benchmarks identify the knowledge and skills that all students must achieve in a content area by the end of a grade level or grade band. Minnesota’s academic standards are reviewed and revised on a 10-year cycle. Please review the Standards Implementation Table for the complete standards review schedule as well as the Social Studies Standards Review and Revision page.

Current standards

Academic Standards in Social Studies 2011

The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies 2011 were adopted in 2012 and were to be implemented by the 2013-14 school year. 

Future Standards:

2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies

The 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies were adopted in March 2024, and are scheduled for full implementation in the 2026-27 school year. Resources supporting implementation of the 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies are available on our Social Studies Implementation Webpage. 

 

Assessments

Schools and districts determine how their students will learn the social studies standards by developing courses, curriculum, and instructional materials aligned to the social studies standards. When formative assessments are aligned to social studies standards-based learning goals and embedded throughout instruction, teachers can identify where students are at in their learning based on evidence, to guide them where to go next. Summative evidence of learning is usually collected at the end of a grading period. Both types of classroom assessment can help identify student misconceptions and scaffold future instruction. Learn more about both formative and summative assessment tasks in The Art of the Blueprint: Inquiry in the Classroom from the National Council for the Social Studies’ journal Social Education.

MCA

Social studies does not have an MCA. 

 

Graduation Requirements h3

In Minnesota, students are required to complete two kinds of requirements by the time they graduate. Students must:

  • Satisfactorily complete all state academic standards or local academic standards where state standards do not apply.
  • Satisfactorily complete the state credit requirements under Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 120B.024.

State statute requires that all public school students in Minnesota satisfactorily complete all Social Studies standards and their corresponding benchmarks in order to graduate (Minn. Stat. 120B.024, sub 1(5) [2025])

Students are also required to satisfactorily complete three and one-half credits of social studies, including credit for a course in government and citizenship in either grade 11 or 12 for students beginning grade 9 in the 2025-26 school year and later or an advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or other rigorous course on government and citizenship under Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 120B.021, subdivision 1a, and a combination of other credits encompassing at least United States history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in social studies

Grade-specific benchmarks in grades K-8 are mandated by law. Thus, they must be addressed in the specific grade where they are assigned. The Social Studies standards contain grade-specific standards for each of the four main disciplines. 

The high school Social Studies standards are banded and must be taught within the grade span of 9-12. 

At any grade level, the benchmarks from multiple disciplines can be combined to facilitate integrated, or interdisciplinary, learning experiences. 

The standards represent the minimum requirements; schools may offer courses in additional disciplines, including psychology, sociology, archaeology, and anthropology. 

 

Credit Equivalencies

A one-half credit of economics taught in a school’s agriculture education or business department may fulfill a one-half credit in social studies if the credit is sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in economics (Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 120B.024, subdivision 2(a))

For more information, view the Graduation Requirements page.

 

Resources for Instruction and Learning

Collaboration

The Minnesota Department of Education works with a number of statewide organizations to support and promote excellence in social studies education. These organizations support educators in standards implementation, research-based instructional strategies for K-12 educators, resources, and opportunities for professional development across the disciplines of social studies.

Standards Related Documentation

Implementation

Supports for standards implementation can be found on the social studies implementation page.

Professional Learning and Upcoming Events

All MDE sponsored professional learning opportunities require registration a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Please register before the stated deadline. 

Social Studies Leader Meetings

The Minnesota Department of Education will host virtual and in person sessions to support planning for and implementation of the 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies monthly during the school year. These sessions are open to anyone with building or district-level responsibilities for curriculum planning and development in all social studies content areas, including curriculum directors, department leads, and teachers. Pre-registration is required for in-person sessions. Information on the 2025-26 Social Studies Curriculum Leaders Network Sessions. 

Social Studies Leader Network meetings are held virtually every month, and in-person at MDE every month except September, December, and May: 

Virtual:

In-Person (at the MDE office in Minneapolis):

  • October 23, 2025, from 9 to 11 a.m.
  • November 20, 2025, from 9 to 11 a.m.
  • January 22, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m.
  • February 26, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m.
  • March 26, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m.
  • April 23, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Social Studies Office Hours

The Social Studies specialist holds monthly meetings for curriculum leaders in multiple formats. Districts, schools and educators needing additional support should reach out directly to mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us. 

Other Professional Learning Opportunities in Social Studies

Navigating the U.S. History Eras

Navigating the U.S. History Eras: Content, Pedagogy, and Inquiry in the Classroom, presented by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC), is a yearlong professional learning opportunity supporting implementation of Minnesota’s 2021 K–12 Academic Standards in Social Studies.

Register for all sessions and access to the Canvas course through the Minnesota Humanities Center.

Educator Edition Newsletter

The Educator Edition Bulletin/Newsletter is a monthly newsletter sent electronically by MDE with important Academic Standards information, research, and legislative updates. Subscribe to the Educator Edition Bulletin/Newsletter.  

Projects and Initiatives

Personal Finance

The final Minnesota Personal Finance Education Statewide Guidance document developed by the Personal Finance Working Group is now available on the Personal Finance webpage.

Recognition and Awards Programs

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students. Each year, two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity spend a week in Washington, D.C., experiencing their national government in action.

More information about Minnesota’s U.S. Senate Youth Program application process can be found on the USSYP Page.

Other Legislative Information

Updates

No 2025 legislative updates.

Personal Finance

Additionally, the 2023 Minnesota legislative session added Personal Finance as a graduation requirement beginning with students entering 9th grade in the 2024-25 school year. This guidance is a PDF that offers a summary of the changes, and an overview of frequently asked questions.

Other 2023 Legislative Impacts on Social Studies

The 2023 Minnesota legislative session resulted in legislation being passed with regard to education—including changes to state statutes that directly impact K-12 Social Studies education.