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    » Previous Development: SBOE discussed the proposed changes (November 18, 2009)

Official Participants

State Board of Education (SBOE)

An elected 15-member board that (with the commissioner of education) oversees the public education system in Texas. They selected and advised the review committees, appointed the expert reviewers, and will have the final say on what is in or out of the TEKS. Follow these links for information about individual board members, a map of member districts, minutes of past meetings, and a history of the SBOE.

TEKS Review Committees

Composed of educators and citizens, the committees were appointed by the SBOE to propose changes to the existing TEKS. Applicants submitted resumes and credentials to the SBOE for consideration. They began working in January 2009. Lists of members have been published for for grades K-8 and grades 9-12.

Expert Reviewers

Six individuals appointed by the SBOE to formally review the 1998 version of the TEKS and the first draft produced by the review committees. Expert reviewers required the nomination of two members of the SBOE and report to the SBOE. The reviewers are:

• David Barton, President, WallBuilders
• Jesus Francisco de la Teja, Professor and Chair, Department of History, Texas State University
• Daniel L. Dreisbach, Professor, School of Public Affairs, American University
• Lybeth Hodges, Professor, History and Government, Texas Woman's University
• Jim Kracht, Associate Dean and Professor, College of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University
• Peter Marshall, President, Peter Marshall Ministries

 

Groups Publicly Participating in the Process

	Texas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) - Founded in 1945 to, according to its website, "advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States."
	Multicultural Alliance for Social Studies Advocacy (MASSA) - an organization of education faculty and students at The University of Texas at El Paso which promotes, according to its flier, "the teaching of accurate, significant, relevant, and culturally diverse social studies in the public schools of Texas." MASSA issued a Call to Action in December 2009.
	Texas Alliance for Geographic Education (TAGE) - a professional association that, according to its website, "has over 6,500 members, including teachers, university professors, parents, and community leaders, who share the common goal of strengthening geographic education in Texas." TAGE issued a Call to Action in 2009.
	Texas Free Market Foundation - a Plano-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that, according to its website, works "to protect freedoms and strengthen families throughout Texas by impacting our legislature, media, grassroots, and courts with the truth." The foundation emphasizes "Judeo-Christian values," "First Amendment freedoms, less government, and solid family values" and serves as the statewide public policy council associated with Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family.
	Texas Freedom Network (TFN) - an Austin-based 501(c)(4) tax-exempt, non-profit corporation that, according to its website, "advances a mainstream agenda of religious freedom and individual liberties to counter the religious right." Membership is open to the public though contributions are not tax deductible.
	United Farm Workers of America (UFWA) - a labor union that Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta helped found in 1962.
	Center for History Teaching & Learning (CHTL) - a division of the History Department at The University of Texas at El Paso that promotes pre-service teacher education and professional development among current social studies teachers. The Center hosts this TEKSWatch website.

 

From the State Board of Education (SBOE)

• Information regarding the social studies TEKS review
• Archived meeting agendas and videos
• TEKS Review Process (revised 5/2009)
• TEKS Timelines

How Things Are Unfolding

Past Events

• January-February 2009: Subject review committees appointed by the SBOE began reviewing the social studies TEKS [View a list of committee members by subject for grades K-8 or 9-12]
• January 2009: Texas Council for the Social Studies published Proposed Changes to the TEKS [Scroll down to "TCSS/TSSSA TEKS Refinement Suggestions"]
• April 2009: SBOE called for six expert reviewers
• July 2009: Expert reviewers submitted their Reviews of Current Social Studies TEKS, Subject review committees reconvened to consider suggestions from expert reviewers
• July 31, 2009: First draft of recommendations for revisions to the social studies TEKS posted: K-5 | 6-8 | US since 1877 | World | Others
• September 10, 2009: Expert reviewers have reviewed the first draft of the TEKS
• September 16-17, 2009: SBOE invited comments from expert reviews on the draft TEKS [audio files now archived here]
• October 9, 2009: Subject review committees met to evaluate and integrate recommendations
• November 6, 2009: SBOE released Second Draft (dated October 17, 2009) of the TEKS
• NEW November 18, 2009: SBOE discussed the proposed changes

Upcoming Events

• January 13, 2010: SBOE will hold public adoption hearings
• February 2010: Proposed revised TEKS to be posted online for official public comment
• March 2010: SBOE to make final decision regarding new TEKS
• Fall 2011: new TEKS to be implemented in public schools
• Fall 2012: SBOE will adopt new textbooks
• Fall 2013: new textbooks will be used in schools

Tell us about another news story

The Revision Process

Gary Scharrer, "Texas Set to Update 1997 Social Studies Curriculum," San Antonio Express-News, July 12, 2009

Stephanie Simon, "The Culture Wars' New Front: U.S. History Classes in Texas," Wall Street Journal, July 14, 2009

Linda P. Campbell, "Texas State Board of Education Wrestles with Textbook Standards," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 15, 2009

Kate Alexander, "Social Studies will be Next Battle for State Board of Education: Controversy Looms in Board's Decisions about History, Government and Culture," Austin American-Statesman, July 16, 2009

Chris McGreal, "Christian Right Aims to Change History Lessons in Texas Schools," The Guardian (UK), July 22, 2009

Kate Alexander, "Social Studies Standards Strike Compromise: Most Controversial Expert Recommendations Left Out of Draft Standards," Austin American-Statesman, August 7, 2009

Mary Ann Zehr, "Texas Braces for Debate on U.S. History Standards," Education Week 29, no. 1 (August 17, 2009)

Justin Elliot, "Could Texas' Gingrich-Based High School History Curriculum Go National?" Talking Points Memo, September 4, 2009

Justin Elliot, "'Expert' Barton Brings Religio-Historical Road Show To TX Board Of Ed Hearing," Talking Points Memo, September 17, 2009

Kate Alexander, "Flap Over Social Studies Heats Up Again: Some Historians Worry that Religion Being Given Undue Role," Austin American-Statesman, September 17, 2009

Editors, "So Far, State Education Board is Finding Sweet Spot on Standards," Dallas Morning News, September 30, 2009

Sue Blanchette, "Keep Politics Out of Social Studies Standards," Dallas Morning News, October 8, 2009

Shirley Jinkins, "Texas Education Panel Deciding Who's in and Who's out for Social Studies Textbooks," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 15, 2009

Ken Camp, "Texas Textbook Battles have National Significance, Scholar Says," Associated Baptist Press, November 12, 2009

Terrence Stutz, "Texas Board of Education meets on Social Studies Curriculum Standards," Dallas Morning News, November 18, 2009

Gary Scharrer, "Social Studies Book Panel has Hands Full," Houston Chronicle, November 23, 2009

Zahira Torres, "Textbook Travails: Many Concerned over Changes to Social Studies Curriculum," El Paso Times, December 21, 2009

Mariah Blake, "Revisionaries: How a Group of Texas Conservatives is Rewriting Your Kids' Textbooks," Washington Monthly, January/February 2010

NEW Terrence Stutz, "Social Conservatives' Power at Issue in Texas Education Board Races," Dallas Morning News, January 9, 2010

NEW Keith A. Erekson, "Texas Social Studies Reform: What Texans Aren't Talking About--But Should Be," History News Network, January 11, 2010

NEW Traci Shurley, "State Board of Education Expects Plenty of Strong Views at Curriculum Meeting," Star-Telegram, January 11, 2010

 

Hispanics Lacking in the TEKS, say Hispanic Lawmakers

Dave Montgomery, "Lawmaker: More Hispanics in Social Studies Curriculum or Else," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 18, 2009 | Reprinted at HispanicBusiness.com

Gary Scharrer, "Hispanics’ Role in Texas History Pushed," San Antonio Express-News, November 19, 2009 | Additional comments at the Houston Chronicle

Terrence Stutz, "Lawmaker tells Texas' State Board of Education that Hispanics are lacking in Textbooks," Dallas Morning News, November 19, 2009

El Paso Times Editorial Board, "Hispanic History: Back Rep. Norma Chávez's Stance," El Paso Times, November 21, 2009

William McKenzie, "Why, Yes, More Latinos Should be Included in Social Studies TEKS," Dallas Morning News, November 23, 2009

Mary Ann Zehr, "Does New Mexico Need a Hispanic Education Act?," Education Week, December 7, 2009 [Not explicitly about the TEKS, but interesting context]

NEW Gary Scharrer, "Groups Call for Textbook Input," Houston Chronicle, January 7, 2010

NEW Jennifer Borget, "Community Activists Push for More Latinos in History Books," News 8 Austin, January 7, 2010

NEW Veronica Flores-Paniagua, "Kids May Lose in Textbook Debate," San Antonio Express-News, January 9, 2010

 

Religion and the Founding Fathers

Gary Scharrer, "What did Founding Fathers Believe? Finding a Consensus will be Tricky for those developing New State Curriculum," Houston Chronicle, September 28, 2009

Charles C. Haynes, "Revising History: What Happens in Texas Won't Stay in Texas," eNews Park Forest, October 3, 2009

Terrence Stutz, "3 Education Board Members Take Issue with Social Studies Proposal," Dallas Morning News, October 16, 2009

NEW Joshua Sanders, "Christianity's Role in History of U.S. at Issue," Austin American-Statesman, January 10, 2010

 

11th Grade U.S. History (since Reconstruction) Committee

Bill Ames, "The Left’s War on U.S. History: Part I, Part II, Part III," Texas Insider, November 9-11, 2009

Gary Scharrer, "New History Standards too Liberal, Critic Says," San Antonio Express-News, November 18, 2009

 

Christmas

Kate Alexander, "No 'war on Christmas' in Social Studies Curriculum," Austin American-Statesman, September 11, 2009

April Castro, "Conservatives see Texas Social Studies Proposal as 'War' on Christianity," Associated Press, September 11, 2009

Gary Scharrer, "Board Decides to Keep Christmas in Textbooks," Houston Chronicle, September 18, 2009

Terrence Stutz, "Texas Board Revises History Books," Dallas Morning News, September 18, 2009

Mary Ann Zehr, "Texas School Board Backs More Inclusion in Social Studies Draft," September 29, 2009

 

César Chávez

Terrence Stutz, "Conservatives say Texas Social Studies Classes give too much Credit to Civil Rights Leaders," Dallas Morning News, July 9, 2009

Bryan Rupp, "State Board of Education Wants to Strip Cesar Chavez from School Books," News KBMT [Beaumont, TX], July 16, 2009

Miriam Pawel, "The Study of History Demands Nuanced Thinking," Austin American-Statesman, July 17, 2009

"Education 'experts' slam César Chavez," San Angelo Standard-Times, July 18, 2009

Zahira Torres, "Our Schools: Suggested Change to Curriculum under Fire," El Paso Times, August 5, 2009

Kate Alexander, "Social Studies Standards Strike Compromise: Most Controversial Expert Recommendations Left Out of Draft Standards," Austin American-Statesman, August 7, 2009

April Castro, "Must-Know Figures Could Change for Texas," Associated Press, September 16, 2009

April Castro, "Texas Activists: Chavez, Marshall Must be Taught," Associated Press, September 17, 2009

Zahira Torres, "State Board to Keep Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall in its Curriculum," El Paso Times, September 18, 2009

 

Last Time Texas Updated Curriculum

Alexander Stille, "Textbook Publishers Learn: Avoid Messing With Texas," New York Times, June 29, 2002

Chris Patterson, "In Texas It's Social Studies that's the Enemy of Good Textbooks," Texas Public Policy Foundation, August 26, 2002