The Kansas History, Government and Social Studies (HGSS) Standards document identifies five standards and four associated benchmarks that support the discipline-specific application of content in authentic situations rather than focusing simply on discipline-specific content. The document includes details on effective HGSS classroom instructional best practices and highlights the historical thinking skills that develop when classroom educators successfully integrate these practices into their students’ learning. 

The Kansas Social Studies Classroom-Based Assessment (CBA) is designed to measure student understanding of these standards, benchmarks and skills while allowing Kansas school districts, classroom teachers and students the opportunity to develop their own assessment that best supports local decisions concerning content, sources, and products. The CBA is based on the fourth benchmark outlined in the state standards document and specifically asks students to create a product that demonstrates their competency in advancing a claim or thesis and supporting that claim or thesis using evidence and argument. To prepare learners for the state-level CBA, classroom teachers should provide students learning opportunities to become proficient in the skills described in the benchmarks under each of the five standards. These expectations are outlined in Benchmarks One, Two and Three.

Benchmark 1: Recognize and Evaluate
The student is able to recognize and then evaluate one or more of the big ideas from the five Standards (i.e., choices, consequences, rights, responsibilities, identities, beliefs, ideas, actions, continuity, change or dynamic relationships). 

Benchmark 2: Analyze Context and Draw Conclusions
The student is able to analyze the circumstances surrounding one or more of the big ideas from the five standards (i.e., choices, consequences, rights, responsibilities, identities, beliefs, ideas, actions, continuity, change or dynamic relationships) and then draw conclusions or make judgments about what they have analyzed. “HGSS Standards Documents.” (2022) Kansas State Department of Education

Benchmark 3: Investigate and Make Connections
The student is able to investigate one or more of the big ideas from the five standards (i.e., choices, consequences, rights, responsibilities, identities, beliefs, ideas, actions, continuity, change or dynamic relationships) and then make connections to contemporary or real-world issues.

The evaluation of a student’s ability to develop a product that answers a locally developed compelling question using evidence and argument satisfies the requirements of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) state assessment mandate. This required state assessment is based on Benchmark Four.

Benchmark 4: Make a Claim or Advance a Thesis Using Evidence and Argument

Kansas History Government and Social Studies Standards:

1. Choices have Consequences
2.  Individuals have Rights and Responsibilities
3. Societies are shaped by Identities, Beliefs, and Practices of Individuals and Groups
4. Societies Experience Continuity and Change Over Time
5. Relationships among People, Places, Ideas, and Environments are Dynamic