A balanced and effective social studies program prepares students to be active, informed, and responsible citizens. Social studies increases student's awareness of their world, their nation, and their state, giving them fundamental understanding of their own society and others both past and present. Students acquire and perfect skills of individual and group inquiry and examine a broad range of peoples and cultures. Students gain from social studies programs the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that enable them to be effective problem-solvers, good decision-makers and wise planners.