Standards: History and Social Science

Arizona History and Social Science Standards

Arizona Civics Test Information and Reporting Guide

 

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ARIZONA 250 TOOLKIT

Celebrate the US Semiquincentennial through an AZ lens! The above toolkit includes local and national organizations, resources, and activities for K-12 and beyond!

 

Classroom Resources

History and Social Science Standards PDF

History and Social Science Standards Digital (ADEL)

Download the complete standards document: History and Social Sciences PDF or the find the digitized version of the standards on PAASPort

THESE GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS ARE MEANT TO HELP WITH PLANNING AND ORGANIZING. SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS SHOULD PROVIDE A CURRICULUM MAP THAT INCLUDES ALL GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS.

Do not use these guidance documents to make curricular decisions.

It is with great excitement that the Academic Standards Social Studies Team, as well as a dedicated working group, releases new Social Studies Standards Guidance Documents for K-12 teachers. These documents, the How to Use Guide and grade level Guidance Documents, were created to support integrating the Arizona State Standards and inquiry into the K-12 Social Studies classroom. When building out these documents, the working group, which consisted of K-12 Social Studies educators and leaders, considered what type of document would be helpful to new classroom educators, long-term subs, administrators, and those stepping into the subject or grade for the first time.

K-2 Guidance Documents

3-5 Guidance Documents

6-8 Guidance Documents

High School Guidance Documents

We want to emphasize that this is just a guidance document to be used for support and that teachers should be referencing district/school curriculum maps, pacing guides, and priority standards. While we decided to select priority standards (standards that are emphasized through all major topics throughout the year), teachers should be teaching all state standards. 

Grade PLACEMATS: K-2

Grade Levels at a Glance: 3-5

Grade Levels at a Glance: 6-8

Grade Levels at a Glance: Complete

Complete: Grade Levels at a Glance

Arizona History and Social Science Standards: Progression of Anchor Standards by Grade Band (PDF)

Arizona History and Social Science Anchor Standards Progression Chart

Alignment of Arizona’s History and Social Science Standards

MORE INFORMATION TO COME!

HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE STANDARDS SUPPORT MATERIALS

Social Science and History 10-Minute Videos

The following tools were developed by American Institutes for Research (AIM) and are a great resource for determining high-quality instructional materials for social studies. 

The following tool was created by inquirED and can be used to evaluate social studies materials. Contact information must be provided for free access. 

Data literacy refers to the ability to read, understand, interpret, and communicate data or claims derived from data. It involves teaching students how to critically evaluate data, including understanding its origins, limitations, and potential biases, and effectively communicate data through visualizations and other means. These are crucial skills for students, as data literacy lays the foundation students need to make decisions, develop critical thinking skills, and understand the underpinnings of the data-driven world we live in, regardless of their role or industry, as they enter the workforce. **

The Inquiry Arc is the framework in the C3 (College, Career, and Civic Life) Social Studies Standards that guides students through the process of inquiry. It consists of six elements: developing compelling questions, planning inquiries through supporting questions, gathering and evaluating sources and using evidence, communicating conclusions, and taking informed action. This approach helps students think critically, analyze evidence, and engage in problem-solving around real-world issues. The six components of the Inquiry Arc are found in the Arizona Social Science and History Standards through the Disciplinary Skills and Processes Anchor standards and appear at each grade level.

Social studies inquiry is a powerful approach for analyzing and interpreting data because it emphasizes asking questions, investigating evidence, and drawing conclusions—skills that align perfectly with data analysis. And of course, analyzing sources includes the analysis of historical and modern data. 

ADE Documents:

Helpful Websites:

**ADE's working definition of data literacy has been adapted from the work of Data Science for Everyone. 

ARIZONA CIVICS TEST

At this time, the parameters of the Arizona Civics Test will not change. Please continue to administer 100 questions from the USCIS Naturalization Civics Test (2008 or 2025 version). Questions, please email [email protected].

High school graduates are required to receive a passing score of 70/100 on a civics test identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. As a courtesy, the Arizona Department of Education, with help from the Maricopa County Education Service Agency and Arizona educators, developed a mostly multiple-choice version of the 2008 version of the USCIS test. In 2026, the Arizona Department of Education create a second sample civics test based on the 2025 version of the USCIS test. Schools can continue to use the 100 questions from the 2008 USCIS test.

Students with Disabilities and the Arizona Civics Test

The Arizona Civics test may be altered in accordance with a student who requires an alternative test. All students should take the test, but the pass/fail determination may be waived based on the student's needs. Please refer to a student's IEP or 504 and speak with the school staff for more guidance. Please find official guidance from the Arizona Department of Education Assessment team HERE.

Civics test implementation began in 2017 and was updated in 2023.

Arizona Civics Test Administration Guide

*Administration Guide Updated February 2026

Beginning in 2023-2024, LEAs are required to report civics test aggregate data by grade level. All public schools and charters who serve studetns in any grades 7-12 are required to submit the Reporting Form EVEN IF STUDENTS WERE NOT TESTED. Submit your data on or before June 15, and only submit data once for your school or charter school. No student information will be collected.

Click the Reporting From button below to open the form.

Schools/charter must collect the following data by district AND grade level:

  1. Median score
  2. Percentage of passing students
  3. Percentage of failing students

Reporting Form

The Arizona Department of Education does not require the use of any of the following resources. Please always reference your district's/school's curriculum, resources, and pacing guides.

The Civic Literacy Curriculum, from Arizona State University’s Center for American Civics, is a free resource designed for students preparing for the civics test. It includes over 100 lessons, assessments, historical backgrounds, primary texts, exercises, worksheets, discussion prompts, and other tools for in-school or home learning.

Civic Literacy Curriculum

    Please contact [email protected] to be directed to the K-12 Social Studies Team.

     

    Seal of Personal Finance Page     Seal of Civics Literacy Page

     

    Arizona History and Social Science Standards Adopted 10.22.2018