SACRAMENTO, CA. November 10, 2005 --The California State Board of Education today unanimously approved Pearson Scott Foresman’s innovative curriculum--History Social Science for California for K-5 as part of the California 2005 History-Social Science Adoption

The exciting new program provides standards-driven, focused instruction through interactive text supported by rich technology resources. It provides an integrated approach to teaching the California History-Social Science Standards that makes it easy for teachers to plan, motivate, and teach because it is simple to implement, engaging and effective.

Unique to the series is the research-based approach that integrates history-social science content with explicit reading instruction. With the collaboration of Dr. Kate Kinsella and Dr. Kevin Feldman, California-based experts on reading, the series provides unparalleled support to help students read and comprehend the informational text found in history-social science materials. According to Dr. Kinsella, "If you teach your students how to read their social studies textbooks, you give them the tools to become life-long learners of history."

Universal access teaching strategies along with the audio Student Text (in English and Spanish) and leveled Content Readers support English learners. All program components are available in Spanish.

"All of us at Pearson Scott Foresman would like to thank the members of the California State Board of Education, the Curriculum Commission and all of those involved in the thorough process of choosing instructional materials for California’s school children," said Paul McFall, President of Pearson Scott Foresman. "We’re excited and confident about how this revolutionary new program will benefit teachers and students throughout the state."

An Innovative Program for California

The program was written specifically for California and provides comprehensive coverage of the Standards in a unique way. All instruction is organized by the Standards: each Standard is the focus of a lesson.

• The content of Pearson Scott Foresman’s History-Social Science for California is taught through three instructional paths: the core Text Path to deliver in-depth content and the alternate Digital Path and Active Path to reinforce content. Each path allows teachers to accommodate students’ learning styles, as well as their own teaching preferences and needs.
• The Text Path provides core instruction in a consumable format, combining the familiarity of a textbook with the interactivity of a textbook.
• The Digital Path presents the entire Student Text online, with an auditory option in both English and Spanish. Interactive software, animation and video motivate today's tech-savvy students.
• The Active Path consists of Standards-based lesson activities developed in conjunction with the prestigious Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and California teachers.
• The program serves the dual purpose of not only meeting history standards, but incorporates reading standards so teachers can meet multiple objectives at the same time.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Programs (NAEP) 80 percent of the nation’s fourth graders spend less than three hours a week learning social studies. Dr. Bill White, a historian with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and author of Scott Foresman’s History-Social Science for California, said that the teaching of history and social science are critical in a dynamic state such as California with ever-changing populations, diverse cultures and a vibrant political atmosphere.

"While history and social science do not constitute the silver bullet for improving education, elevating the emphasis on these subjects is critical to our democracy," White added.

About Pearson Scott Foresman
Pearson Scott Foresman is the world's leading elementary educational publisher. Its full line of educational resources supports teachers and helps schools and districts meet new demands for adequate yearly progress and reporting. Pearson Scott Foresman publishes school curriculum materials in all subject areas, including reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, music, art, bilingual, ESL/ELL, and religion. Its educational resources and services include textbook-based instructional programs, curriculum Web sites, digital media, assessment materials, and professional development.

Pearson Scott Foresman is a division of Pearson Education (NYSE: PSO), the global leader in integrated education publishing. With such renowned brands as Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Longman, Pearson Addison Wesley, Pearson NCS, and many others, Pearson Education provides quality content, assessment tools, and educational services in all available media, spanning the learning curve from birth through college and beyond.

Contact:
Stevan Allen
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Jami Warner
(916) 761-7699