SBOE Preview: Social Studies Redux

The State Board of Education (SBOE) will convene in Austin on Monday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m. CT. The board is set to meet throughout the week, ending on Friday, Sept. 10, and will take up several important items, most notably, a framework for the anticipated social studies content area revision.

Monday Preview

Monday's agenda will be dominated by a discussion on the social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) framework, course sequence, and strands. This is a continuation of the discussion the board had in June on the same topic, and one that revives an important argument for what should be taught in social studies and how to teach it in order to produce the best learning outcomes for students. This question was at the heart of the previous social studies review and one of the primary reasons that the previously planned revision of the social studies TEKS broke down in 2022. The board adopted only changes that had been statutorily required by the 87^th Legislature and pushed the full revision further down the calendar.

With those 2022 changes now in effect, the current SBOE can take up and consider further changes to the TEKS.

Tuesday Preview

Tuesday will be spent primarily on discussion and action items related to instructional materials. There will be a public hearing on materials submitted for approval for the 2025 adoption cycle including:

• K- 6 English and Spanish mathematics;

• 7-12 English mathematics;

• K-6 English and Spanish language arts and reading (ELAR and SLAR);

• partial-subject, tier-one instructional materials for K-3 English and Spanish phonics; and

• supplemental materials for K-6 English and Spanish mathematics and 7-12 English mathematics.

Also on the agenda is approval of the quality rubrics for the 2026 adoption cycle including:

• high school career and technical education (CTE);

• K-12 positive character traits and personal skills; and

• supplemental K-5 language arts and reading.

The board will also receive an update on the 2025 cycle, a final report on the 2024 adoption cycle, and discuss the requirements for suitability reviewers and the process for the appointment and selection of suitability reviewers.

The final item on Tuesday will be of interest to many Hotline readers and that is a five-year review of charter schools. At the board's June meeting, when four new charter schools were approved, members expressed a desire to be fully apprised of the status and success of the approved entities over the last few years. This item will be the staff's opportunity to present a more comprehensive view of recent approvals and whether or not these entities have been successful.

Wednesday Preview

Wednesday will begin with comments from Commissioner Mike Morath. While the published item is not detailed, we presume that he will update the board on education statute that has passed in the (so-far) two special sessions called by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The board is slated to take action on the social studies framework after considering Monday's discussion item.

Thursday Preview

Committee work on Thursday will include innovative course and gifted/talented identification rules in the Committee on Instruction.

The Committee on School Initiatives will receive a standing update on the Generation 31 charter applications, ongoing State Board for Educator Certification activities, and will engage in discussion on parental rights training for school district trustees as required by Senate Bill (SB) 204.

The Committee on School Finance will hear a preliminary report on the per capita apportionment rate for the 2025-2026 school year from the Available School Fund (ASF) and will take action on whether transfers may be made from the Permanent School Fund (PSF) to the ASF in fiscal year 2026.

And a special note for Friday: The 2025 Heroes for Children Award recipients will be honored during the meeting of the full board.