The Garfield Re-2 School District is on the verge of possibly switching its social studies program to the conservative American Birthright Standard. Parents and community members have an opportunity to share their voice in the choice starting this week.

The school district is hosting a social studies standards community forum between 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Silt Branch Library, 680 Home Ave., a Garfield Re-2 news release states.

This marks the first of four public forums slated to address the district’s social studies standards. Further meetings will be held on the following dates and locations:

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• 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, Rifle Branch Library, 207 East Ave.
• 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, Rifle Branch Library 
• 6-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, New Castle Library, 402 W. Main St.

“At the August 23, 2023, School Board meeting, the Garfield Re-2 Board of Directors approved a community engagement plan to gather feedback about potential social studies standards,” the release states. “The District is in the process of evaluating which Social Studies standards will help Garfield Re-2 students grow into the best-informed citizens they can be with a comprehensive understanding of the world.”

In addition, comments will be gathered internally from staff as well as high school students, the release states. The social studies standards community forums will provide an opportunity for families and community members to share their concerns and preferences for one of several options, including:

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• Adopted 2022 Colorado Academic Social Studies Standards
• Revised 2022 Colorado Academic Social Studies Standards
• American Birthright Standards

Community members can access complete documents for all three at http://www.garfieldre2.net. In addition, community members can download a packet that contains just the first-grade or sixth-grade standards so they can compare a single grade level. These packets are available in both English and Spanish.

Interpretation will be available on-site for all meetings.

Materials are available online at the web address above, at the front office of each Garfield Re-2 School, and at the District Office. All comments from the meetings and surveys will be documented and be part of the information provided to the Social Studies Curriculum Review Committee. This committee will evaluate all of the feedback as well as the options and make a recommendation to the School Board in October.

“Additionally, community members can take a survey asking for comments and preferences regarding the possible Social Studies Standards,” the release states. 

The survey can be found at the same web address on the Garfield Re-2 website and is linked below.

Spanish Social Studies Survey 

English Social Studies Survey 

If you have problems accessing any of the Social Studies Standards under consideration or the survey, please contact Elementary Director of Curriculum and Student Success Simone Richardson at srichardson@garfieldre2.net or Secondary Director of Curriculum and Student Success jpingel@garfieldre2.net.