The papers in this volume represent the personal observations, interpretations, and opinions of consultants and staff who worked on Project SPAN (Social Studies/Social Science Education: Priorities, Practices, and Needs). The project reviewed and analyzed the current state of K-12 social studies in order to form a basis for recommendations for future directions that might be taken to improve social studies. The report contains three sections. The first section focuses on the current state of social studies. For example, some papers present a broad view of social studies evaluation and summarize research findings on junior and senior high students' perceptions of social studies and their knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Others examine factors affecting the climate of schools; discuss how money, mandates, and managers affect social studies; and look at educational change processes in social studies. The papers in the second section deal with the future by discussing alternatives for social studies. Titles of the papers are "A Social Roles Approach to Social Studies,""Concepts and Skills: Social Studies in 2002,""Three Recommendations for High School Social Studies," and "Desirable Characteristics of Social Studies/Social Science Education." The third section contains a complete bibliography of references consulted during the course of the project. (Author/RM)