The State Board of Education Social Studies TEKS review process has continued throughout the summer, with the SBOE hearing public testimony on the new proposed frameworks at their June meeting. In addition to their regular meeting August 30—September 2, the SBOE has called a special meeting on August 1 to discuss the social studies TEKS proposed revisions.
At the June meeting, Marci Deal, social studies coordinator from Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, presented to the SBOE an alternative elementary framework that resulted from the collaboration of social studies supervisors and educators from 30 districts across the state. Marci noted that as a K-12 social studies coordinator for 28 years, she was aware that social studies skills and content need to be spiraled in depth and complexity from year to year, as the new TEKS elementary framework proposes. However she also expressed concern that the proposed K-8 framework was “not fundamentally strong” and lacks sufficient research basis. In response to a question from SBOE member Pat Hardy, Marci clarified that a chronological approach integrating world, US, and Texas history across the grades could result in a shallower coverage of the content and that content specialists, such as world or Texas history teachers, were needed to teach these topics in depth. Marci also expressed concern about the needs to re-train teachers and replace all existing curriculum and instructional resources with the proposed new framework.
Acknowledging that enhancements need to be made to the existing social studies TEKS, Marci urged the SBOE to consider a “more reasonable plan of action” that the educators presented to the SBOE via e-mail. Their approach introduces foundational studies of social studies in K. Students in grades 1, 4, and 7 would focus on Texas history, and grades 2, 5, and 8 would focus on US history, with grades 3 and 6 focusing on world history and contemporary world issues. In 7th grade, Texas history with connections to US history would be taught, allowing 8th grade to focus on early US history with more depth and rigor to prepare students for STAAR. Civics, geography, government, and economics skills would be vertically aligned for K-8, a significant improvement over the current TEKS. Marci concluded her testimony by saying, “Our enhanced plan provides coherence and will allow for depth and complexity and not just a chronological approach that will be shallow and oversimplified.”
The August 1 SBOE meeting will provide an update on the progress of the Work Groups on the revision of the social studies TEKS. Work Group D Draft Recommendations for Kindergarten—Grade 8 has been posted on the TEA website.  For the agenda and to watch the livestream, check the Board Meetings page on the TEA website.
For more information: Â Updates on Social Studies TEKS Revisions