Colorado Social Studies Standards Debate and Woodland Park School Board

In November 2022, the Colorado State Board of Education completed the lengthy revision process for the state’s Social Studies Academic Standards. During the discussions, an interesting event occurred: State Board member Debora Scheffel, who is also the Dean of the School of Education at Colorado Christian University, proposed that the Board consider adopting the Civics Alliance’s American Birthright Social Studies Standards. This proposal, in contrast to the inclusive Social Studies Standards recommended by the 1192 Commission, hinted at potential future conflicts. After further debates on the Social Studies Standards, the State Board ultimately decided against adopting the American Birthright Social Studies Standards and instead approved the inclusive Colorado Social Studies Standards.

State Board of Education approves new Social Studies Standards

In January 2023, the Woodland Park School Board passed a resolution to adopt Civics Alliances’ American Birthright Standards, Social Studies Standards that were rejected by the Colorado State Board of Education.

The Woodland Park School Board hired Lis Richards, president of the board for Education ReEnvisioned BOCES, to create a proposal evaluating the vertical alignment of the Woodland Park curriculum with the American Birthright Standards and their relation to the Colorado Academic Standards. The Colorado Department of Education informed the Woodland Park School Board that it was permissible to adopt the American Birthright Social Studies Standards, provided the Woodland Park Social Studies Standards also included the Holocaust Academic Standards & Financial Literacy Standards.

Months later, Garfield RE-2 School Board Director Tony May also proposed that Garfield RE-2 consider adopting the Civics Alliance American Birthright Standards. Thankfully, the Garfield RE-2 community fought back against the local adoption of American Birthright Standards.

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