Michigan Council for the Social Studies - Home Upcoming events A Statement on the State of Elementary Social Studies Education in Michigan A new research study from a team of social studies leaders in Michigan including representatives from the Michigan Department of Education intermediate school districts regional educational service agencies content area organizations and Michigan universities reveals the dire state of elementary social studies instruction in Michigan. National studies demonstrate how social studies has been disappearing from elementary classrooms for decades in part due to mandates on standardized testing in reading and math. Recent research confirms this is also happening in Michigan despite research calling for protecting social studies instructional time to boost literacy scores. 1 In this study nearly 1000 elementary teachers and administrators from all over Michigan were surveyed about the amount of time they spend teaching all academic subjects and about the curriculum resources and professional development they receive specifically in social studies.