Join with AAG to Support Geography Education

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION developed by the Association of American Geographers (AAG) proposes the advancement of geography education with three major recommendations. This resolution has been endorsed by U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense, many governors, major national organizations and corporations, and dozens of state geographic alliances and other groups. See the following page for a partial listing of these endorsers. We strongly urge adoption of the key goals of this resolution.

Download the AAG Resolution Supporting K-12 Geography Education

AAG Resolution Supporting K–12 Geography Education

WHEREAS, Congress is scheduled to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), commonly known as “No Child Left Behind,” for the first time in almost a decade;

WHEREAS, geography is one of ten “core academic subjects” identified in the ESEA for which specific funding allocations and implementing programs are proposed to further its teaching at the K‐12 level;

WHEREAS, geography education is central to preparing students to be informed citizens of the United States and economically competitive in a rapidly globalizing world;

WHEREAS, geotechnologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), GPS, photogrammetry, surveying, mapping, and remote sensing, have been identified by the U.S. Department of Labor as one of the three most important emerging and evolving fields, with job opportunities growing and diversifying rapidly, creating substantial workforce growth as these technologies prove their value in ever more areas;

WHEREAS, employers in all sectors, including private companies, government agencies, and non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) have indicated that there is a pressing need for more students graduating today with the geographic science and geospatial skills needed to support a rapidly growing field;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN GEOGRAPHERS:

Urges the Obama Administration to include geography and geospatial education in its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and ESEA Blueprint for Reform proposals;

Urges Congress to include authorizations and appropriations for geography education consistent with other core academic subjects for K‐12, as part of a reauthorized ESEA; and

Urges Congress to enhance geography teacher training by passing legislation such as the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act.

See Who Has Endorsed the AAG Resolution to Support Geography Education