-Focuses specifically on curriculum development and provides a principled approach for addressing the needs of those involved in developing curriculum-teachers, schools, foundations, non-profits, and government agencies. -Emphasizes the knowledge component of the curriculum, rather than skills, competencies, or interpersonal interactions, which have been the subject of most recent work in social and civic education (e.g., historical inquiry, discussion skills, social and emotional learning, etc.). -Grounded in contemporary and international scholarship from political theory, cognitive science, and other areas.