Share your thoughts on social studies revisions, literary lists

The State Board of Education is scheduled to meet April 6-10 to discuss a variety of topics, including a proposed list of required literary works for each grade level and significant changes to the state's social studies curriculum.

While the official agenda is yet to be posted, these two items have garnered significant attention in past meetings and will likely remain the most contentious items during the coming months.

Read TCTA's previous articles on the literary lists and social studies revisions here and here.

Required reading lists

During the April meeting, SBOE members will consider Member Will Hickman's proposed amended list of required literary works and vote on any other amendments proposed during the meeting before taking a final vote on approving the entire list.

Most of those who testified during January's SBOE meeting expressed concerns with the significant number of passages from the Christian Bible that would be required, while others cited the overall number of literary works per grade level as an impediment to teacher autonomy in choosing appropriate materials for their own students. A handful also mentioned that in creating a list of required literary works, those works would be de facto TEKS and therefore could be fair game for inclusion on state tests.

Social studies TEKS review

In late February, anticipating significant public interest, SBOE Chairman Aaron Kinsey called a special meeting to discuss changes to the state's social studies curriculim. Several of the content advisors appointed by SBOE to oversee the TEKS review process were present to guide SBOE members through the work groups' reports.

Most of the content advisors are not teachers and there has been some concern that they are not focused enough on creating a curriculum that can reasonably be taught in a year. The proposed framework would also place more emphasis on Texas and United States history than world history.

We need your feedback!

TCTA is seeking feedback from members on these topics. Your participation is critical in helping us advocate for educators both in the Texas Legislature and at the SBOE.

Click here to take our survey by March 27.