The "College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards: State Guidance for Enhancing the Rigor of K-12 Civics, Economics, Geography, and History" will soon be released. The C3 Framework was developed to serve two audiences: for states to upgrade their state social studies standards, and for practitioners--local school districts, schools, teachers and curriculum writers--to strengthen their social studies programs. Its objectives are to: (1) enhance the rigor of the social studies disciplines; (2) build the critical thinking, problem solving, and participatory skills necessary for students to become engaged citizens; and (3) align academic programs in social studies to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies. At the request of Social Education, NCSS President-Elect Michelle Herczog, who participated in the development of the C3 Framework, has provided the following Q and A for readers.