K-12 Social Studies Market Survey Report 2019


Attention: There is an updated edition available for this report.

K-12 Social Studies Market Survey Report 2019

K-12 Social Studies Market Survey Report 2019 provides information on the instructional materials used by social studies educators. Survey-based data is included on the selection and use of core social studies programs and supplemental resources—both print and digital.


  • Methodology
  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
    • New Look at Social Studies Market
  • State of Social Studies 2019-2020
    • Impact of State Adoptions
    • Opportunities in 2019
    • California Sales Drive 2019 Market
    • Sources of Social Studies Materials
      • Table Educators Cite Sources for Social Studies Instructional Materials
      • Table Socioeconomic Status and Source for > 75% of Instructional Materials, Per Educators
    • Supplemental Spending for Social Studies
      • Table Estimate of Social Studies Spending by Classroom
  • Using a Core Program
    • Table Use of a Core Program by Subject Area
    • Table Use of a Core Social Studies Program by Grade Level
    • Table How Social Studies Programs Are Used by Publisher
    • Core Social Studies Programs in Use
      • Table Core Social Studies Programs by Publisher
    • Important Attributes of Core Social Studies Programs
      • Table Top Attributes of Core Social Studies Programs, Overall
      • Table Attributes of Core Social Studies Programs Ranked #1 by Grade Level
    • Core Social Studies Program Use: Print or Digital
      • Table Method of Core Social Studies Program Access by Grade Level
    • How Long Current Core Program Has Been in Use
      • Table How Long Current Social Studies Program Has Been in Use
    • Choosing the Same Program Again
      • Table Would You Choose the Same Program Again?
      • Table Would You Choose the Same Program Again by Publisher Used
  • Other Social Studies Resources
    • Table Primary Tool if Not a Core Program
    • Table Alternatives to Core by Grade Level
    • With a Textbook or as a Textbook Replacement
      • Table How Alternative Resources Are Used
    • Criteria When Selecting Supplemental Resources
      • Table Most Important Criteria in Selecting Supplemental Social Studies Materials
  • The Shift to Digital
    • Table Percent of Social Studies Time Spent Using Any Digital Tools or Content
    • Chromebooks Most Often Used for Digital Access
      • Table Hardware Most Often Used for Digital Access
    • Social Studies Websites Used or Recommended
      • Table Top Social Studies Websites Used or Recommended
  • Purchasing Outlook
    • Who Makes Social Studies Purchasing Decisions
      • Table Who Makes Social Studies Purchasing Decisions
    • Will Purchasing Increase in 2019-2020?
      • Table Social Studies Purchasing 2019-2020 versus 2018-2019
    • Outlook for the Social Studies Market
  • Appendix
    • Table STATE OF RESIDENCE
    • Table REGION
    • Table Q.1 - WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MOST CLOSELY DESCRIBES YOUR POSITION?
    • Table Q.2 - WITHIN WHICH GRADE RANGE DO YOU CURRENTLY TEACH OR SUPERVISE?
    • Table Q.3 - HOW MANY YEARS OF TEACHING/SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE?
    • Table Q.4 - WHAT IS THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN YOUR DISTRICT?
    • Table Q.5 - WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT ELIGIBLE FOR FREE/REDUCED PRICE LUNCH?
    • Table Q.6 - WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS BEST DESCRIBES YOUR SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM?
    • Table Q.7 - IF YOU HAVE A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM, WHICH ONE DO YOU USE AS YOUR PRIMARY TEACHING RESOURCE? FILTER: HAVE A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM
    • Table Q.8 - WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (RANK FROM 1-8 WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT): AVAILABLE BOTH PRINT & DIGITAL?
    • Table Q.8 - WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (RANK FROM 1-8 WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT): ADAPTIVE TO INDIVIDUALIZE LEARNING?
    • Table Q.8 - WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (RANK FROM 1-8 WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT): INTEGRATES CURRENT EVENTS?
    • Table Q.8 - WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (RANK FROM 1-8 WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT): INTEGRATES CIVICS CONTENT?
    • Table Q.8 - WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (RANK FROM 1-8 WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT): INCLUDES INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO?
    • Table Q.8 - WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (RANK FROM 1-8 WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT): INCLUDES LEARNING GAMES?
    • Table Q.8 - WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (RANK FROM 1-8 WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT): EMPHASIS ON REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS?
    • Table Q.8 - WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE FOR A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM (RANK FROM 1-8 WITH 1 BEING MOST IMPORTANT): INCLUDES TRAINING/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
    • Table Q.9 - IN WHAT FORMAT DO YOUR STUDENTS MOST OFTEN ACCESS THE CORE PROGRAM?
    • Table Q.10 - HOW RECENTLY DID YOU ADOPT THE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM YOU CURRENTLY USE?
    • Table Q.11 - IF YOU HAD IT TO DO OVER, WOULD YOU CHOOSE THE SAME PROGRAM AGAIN?
    • Table Q.12 - IF NOT A CORE SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM, WHAT DO YOU USE AS YOUR PRIMARY TOOL(S) TO TEACH SOCIAL STUDIES?
    • Table Q.13 - HOW ARE THE RESOURCES IN Q.12 GENERALLY USED?
    • Table Q.14 - WHAT PERCENTAGE OF SOCIAL STUDIES TIME IS SPENT USING ANY DIGITAL TOOLS AND/OR DIGITAL CONTENT?
    • Table Q.15 - WHAT HARDWARE IS USED MOST OFTEN BY THE STUDENTS TO ACCESS SOCIAL STUDIES DIGITAL TOOLS OR CONTENT?
    • Table Q.16 - WHICH SOCIAL STUDIES-RELATED WEB SITES HAVE YOU USED/DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR STUDENT USE OR FOR TEACHER RESOURCES?
    • Table Q.17 - ESTIMATE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS YOU USE COMES FROM: DIRECT PURCHASE BY SCHOOL OR DISTRICT FROM COMMERCIAL PROVIDER
    • Table Q.17 - ESTIMATE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS YOU USE COMES FROM: ACCESSED FOR FREE VIA THE INTERNET
    • Table Q.17 - ESTIMATE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS YOU USE COMES FROM: PROVIDED BY STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
    • Table Q.17 - ESTIMATE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS YOU USE COMES FROM: SHARED FROM OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT OR REGIONAL CONSORTIA
    • Table Q.17 - ESTIMATE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS YOU USE COMES FROM: CREATED BY OWN TEACHERS/STAFF
    • Table Q.18 - WHO IN YOUR SCHOOL OR DISTRICT MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF SOCIAL STUDIES MATERIALS?
    • Table Q.19 - WILL YOUR PURCHASES FOR SOCIAL STUDIES MATERIALS INCREASE IN 2019-20 COMPARED TO 2018-19?
    • Table Q.20 - IN SELECTING SUPPLEMENTAL SOCIAL STUDIES MATERIALS, APART FROM FIT WITH YOUR STUDENTS' NEEDS, WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA DRIVING YOUR BUYING DECISION?
    • Table Q.21 - ESTIMATE HOW MUCH WILL BE SPENT THIS SCHOOL YEAR FOR SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS (EXCLUDING TEXTBOOKS) PER CLASSROOM IN YOUR SCHOOL INCLUDING FUNDS FROM THE SCHOOL BUDGET, PARENT ORGANIZATIONS, FUND-RAISING, AND PERSONAL FUNDS, IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES AND IN TOTAL

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