The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is launching a partnership with the Core Knowledge Foundation to develop Our Commonwealth, Our Nation, Our World, a new K-8 social studies high-quality instructional resource (HQIR) built specifically for Kentucky students and aligned to the Kentucky Academic Standards.

This Social Studies HQIR is not being adapted TO Kentucky; it is being built FOR Kentucky. Our Commonwealth will reflect Kentucky’s stories, communities, history, geography, economics and civic life.

Curriculum Details

The curriculum will be offered as a free, open-source instructional resource for districts. Districts will be able to download the digital resource, including all units and lesson plans, at no cost. The KY Learning Hub will host assessments and answer keys. Low-cost print workbooks also will be made available for purchase for districts that require physical materials.

Rollout Timeline

KDE will release materials in phases: Kindergarten and grades 3, 5 and 8 in 2027-2028, followed by grades 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 in 2028-2029. KDE also will offer comprehensive, curriculum-based professional learning with each release, including regional in-person summer learning sessions, live virtual follow-ups throughout the academic year and self-paced modules on the KY Learning Hub.

Professional Learning and Information

Educators can stay up to date by subscribing to the Standards Newsletter at KYStandards.org.