State Board of Education discusses reading lists, social studies curriculum

The State Board of Education (SBOE) met from January 27^th to January 29^th to discuss a number of topics, chief among them a requirement from HB 1605 to adopt a list of required literary works to be taught in each grade level and upcoming changes to the state social studies curriculum.

Passed in 2023, HB 1605 is a wide-ranging bill whose main focus was creating a list of state-approved high-quality instructional materials; the SBOE is charged with deciding what materials will be included on that list. Shortly after the bill was passed, the SBOE and TEA attracted intense scrutiny over the inclusion of Bible passages in state-sponsored curriculum, called Bluebonnet Learning.

It was approved by a narrow margin.

Another similar provision of HB 1605 tasks the SBOE with creating a list of required vocabulary words and literary works for each grade level. Although the provision requires at least one literary work per grade level, TEA's proposed list of works include between 17 and 34 works per grade level. Several teachers testified to the Board that such extensive lists of required works would leave little room for teachers to choose materials of interest to their students and would not permit them to spend a meaningful amount of time on each work.

The list also attracted scrutiny for a similar reason to Bluebonnet Learning: the inclusion of Bible passages. Seven grade levels include Bible passages and several others feature Bible stories, with only two grade levels featuring neither. A significant number of testifiers expressed their frustration with the inclusion of Bible passages and stories on the list. Several Board members argued the merit of including the passages on the list with testifiers, sometimes becoming animated enough that the Chairman had to intervene to remind both the attendees in the room and the other Board members to maintain decorum.

After some deliberation, the Board voted called a vote on the list, but Member Will Hickman (R-Houston) proposed an amended version of the list with significant changes. Because none of the other members had seen his version prior to that night, the Board voted to postpone further consideration of the list until the next meeting in April to allow a more thorough review of the amended list.

Below are links to the original versions of the reading lists; the proposed amended list is not yet publicly available. Scroll down nearer to the bottom of the links to see the lists.

K-5 Reading List

6-8 Reading List

9-12 Reading List

A number of bills passed in the last decade required the SBOE to make changes to the state social studies curriculum. Recent discussions by the Board on this topic have included a new statutory requirement to substitute a half credit in personal financial literacy in place of the existing graduation requirement for a half credit in economics or a half credit in economics and personal financial literacy, as well as requirements to teach informed patriotism and the founding documents of the United States in the social studies curriculum, among other required changes.

To review and revise any of the TEKS, the SBOE approves a wide variety of stakeholders, including educators and parents, to serve on TEKS review work groups. The SBOE determines the scope of this review, and the work groups conduct their review within that scope. The current discussion on the social studies curriculum revolves around exactly what the scope of that review will be.

A vast majority of testifiers spoke about the Board's guidance to the TEKS works groups, focusing on a perceived lack of inclusion of the variety of cultures present in Texas and a focus on Texas history over United States and World history. After some procedural deliberations, the Board voted to approve the recommendations for the work groups.

TCTA will provide additional updates on the vocabulary and reading lists and updates to the social studies curriculum after the SBOE's April meeting.