Social Studies Market is Strong in 2019

K-12 Social Studies Market Survey Report 2019 provides information on what resources educators are using for social studies instruction and sizes the dollar value of the market for social studies instructional materials in 2019.

Many factors go into projecting the size of a curriculum market segment in any given year. Simba draws on a range of internal and external data. In the mix are total market segment estimates developed by Simba and information gathered on revenue and forecasts of companies in the market and on purchases made by school districts. Simba also draws on sales information from the Association of American Publishers.

K-12 Social Studies Market Survey Report 2019 is built on the results of a 21-question survey that was sent to 18,000 educators in April 2019. Those educators included classroom teachers, social studies teachers, social studies department chairs and curriculum/instruction supervisors. Responses from the educators, particularly the information provided on supplemental use and spending, is another component of the market sizing.

The size of a market discipline in any given year is impacted by the number of adoption states purchasing instructional materials for any given subject. The adoption market is crucial to publishers’ business plans because of the almost guaranteed demand created when states approve instructional materials that school districts then purchase. Many states provide at least some funding to help districts purchase materials on the approved lists.

One of the reasons that the market for social studies curriculum materials is strong in 2019 is a favorable textbook adoption calendar that encouraged publishers—legacy and newer entrants to the market—to produce new curriculum programs. Those programs are being reviewed and purchased in the adoption states and in the open territories.

California offered the largest instructional materials adoption opportunity in 2019 as the state is in the second year of adopting K-8 social studies and the first year for science. The state has the largest K-12 enrollment in the U.S. and had not adopted social studies instructional materials since 2006. The state board in November 2017 approved 10 social studies programs from seven publishers—four for elementary grades and six for middle school—as options for districts.

Across the U.S in 2019, there is interest in educating the whole child and turning out students who are prepared to be productive, informed citizens. After years of heavy concentration on reading and math instruction, many schools are broadening their focus to provide more time for social studies, science and the arts.

In conducting research for this report, Simba found the potential of the social studies instructional materials market is tempered by the amount of free content available, including full courses, video, games and primary source documents.

For in-depth information about the K-12 social studies curriculum market, check out Simba Information’s K-12 Social Studies Market Survey Report 2019, published in September. To learn more or to purchase the report, call 888-297-4622 or e-mail [email protected].