This booklet describes and explains the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) national standards for social studies teachers; which were approved by the NCSS Board of Directors on April 27, 1997. The booklet consists of two general sections: (1) an introduction, which contains, in addition to an overview, information about the background and contexts in which the standards were developed, and a description of the audiences to which the standards are addressed; and (2) the standards themselves. It explains that the standards are of two types: subject matter standards, which outline in some detail the social studies content that teachers should know and the skills and disposition they should possess to teach social studies appropriately; and pedagogical standards, which outline in general the pedagogical knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for general teacher effectiveness. The subject matter standards are the main focus of the booklet because they are the primary areas of expertise and responsibility of NCSS and its members in the national education professional community. These standards are intended to be used to assess and help improve both the professional knowledge, capabilities, and dispositions of individuals seeking initial state licensure to teach social studies in U.S. classrooms and the quality of college and university social studies teacher education programs. (BT)