This document presents recommendations of the Social Studies Content Team appointed by the State Superintendent of Schools of Maryland to define core learning goals in government, U.S. History, and world History. The learning goals are to serve as the basis of high school assessment. To obtain a high school diploma in Maryland, students will have to demonstrate proficiency in each of these subjects, as well as in the disciplines of science, mathematics, and English. The goals connect with the "Goals 2000" reform at the national level and adapt the national standards in civics and government and history to the framework of curricula in Maryland schools. Besides identifying goals in the content areas, information is presented in the context of high school assessment, the format of the learning goals, and the context of the social studies learning goals. The appendices offer a correlation chart on the relationship of the social studies core learning goals to skills for success and a listing of the membership of the Social Studies Content Team. (EH)