A History of Mission-Driven Innovation

Engaged. Informed. Active.
Better social studies education for a better world.

Better social studies education for a better world.

We give educators the tools they need to be agents of change in their classrooms by providing a wide range of products for students at all learning levels. Our curricula are designed to help PreK-12 students develop skills to analyze the world around them, ask good questions, communicate ideas, and become informed citizens.

Engaged, informed, active students become life-long learners prepared to traverse the worlds of college, career, civic life, and beyond. When students have the confidence and tools to lean into issues of the day, wrestling with viewpoints effectively and respectfully, then we’ve achieved success. We also promote classroom engagement through literacy and by meeting students where they are. Our products encourage critical thinking inside and outside the classroom. Our goal is for students to become contributing members of their communities, country, and the world.

This is in our DNA

We were founded on the same core principles that frame our work today.

In 1965, the company founders—Sandy Weiner, a CPA, and Irwin Levin, a middle school teacher—had a passion for civic life and a knack for asking tough questions. To help educators go beyond the textbook, they began sourcing a wide variety of high-quality learning materials and started disseminating them to classrooms through catalogs. Social Studies School Service emerged as an innovative and impactful distributor for the K-12 market.

Since 2002, under the leadership of second-generation owners David Weiner and Aaron Willis, the company has forged a new path as a publisher, developing both core and supplemental curricula that aim to fulfill the company’s founding mission: advance students’ abilities to think critically and ask good questions.

Nystrom, acquired in 2014, has become a significant part of Social Studies School Service. Nystrom develops powerful hands-on products, ranging from maps and atlases to comprehensive mapping programs and core offerings..

With our products being used in over 80 percent of the country’s school districts, Social Studies School Service has become a national leader in social studies education.

Evolving

Looking Ahead

We work hard every day to develop classroom materials that spark inquiry and engagement. We also work to combat apathy and promote empathy. To that end, we aim to meet every classroom’s needs by providing comprehensive curriculum, supplementary resources, both print and digital options, and hands-on tools to further engage students. We pledge to continue making high-quality products and protecting our core values to ensure the long-term success of students and their teachers. We also pledge to partner with district leaders to ensure their success. Our vision of engaged, informed, active students is only possible when districts are able to fulfill their missions.

A Tapestry of Great Ideas

Since the 1960s, Social Studies School Service has grown by adding some of the most innovative and respected education companies to our family.

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