National Center for History in the Schools

National Center for History in the Schools (NCHS) is most known for the development of the National History Standards and Historical Thinking Standards used throughout the United States. Since 1988 the National Center for History in the Schools has nurtured ties between the historical profession and classroom teachers in an effort to improve and enliven the teaching of history at all levels. Through publications, professional development, and community engagement, NCHS links UCLA to teachers and students in Los Angeles and across the United States. NCHS makes the best thinking about U.S. and World History understandable for teachers and their students.

NCHS has developed a range of publications and professional development programs by working closely with teachers, scholars, school districts, and funding agencies. The Center’s first projects were the National History Standards for History for grades 5-12 and a second set of standards for kindergarten through 4th grade. More recently, NCHS has developed materials for World History including World History for Us All: The Big Eras: A Compact History of Humankind for Teachers and Students with Ross E. Dunn, a professor emeritus and co-Director for World History. In addition the Center has published over 70 teaching units in U.S. and World History that draw on historical primary sources and link lessons to history standards.

NCHS is deeply engaged in professional development programming for K-12 history and social studies teachers in California and other states. The Center partners with school districts and teachers to develop these programs, which have been funded by agencies such as the United States Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the University of California President’s Office, the Ahmanson Foundation, the Longview Foundation, the Sidney Stern Foundation, and other private foundations. NCHS has been a partner on five Department of Education Teaching American History grants, providing for the academic presentations around which districts organize their professional development.

A pioneering organization in the effort to improve and enliven the teaching of history, today NCHS is part of a dynamic network of university-based programs that work with K-12 history and social studies teachers. Gary Nash is the founder and director of NCHS.

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