May 16, 2022 SBOE Agenda Item 1

Discussion of Proposed Framework for Kindergarten-Grade 8 Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

May 16, 2022

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for the board to hear testimony and take any necessary action on next steps related to the proposed framework for the Kindergarten-Grade 8 Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4); 28.002(a), (c), (h), (h-1), and (h-2).

TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.

TEC, §28.002(a), identifies the subjects of the required curriculum.

TEC, §28.002(c), requires the SBOE to by rule identify the essential knowledge and skills of each subject in the required curriculum that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be used in evaluating instructional materials and addressed on the state assessment instruments.

TEC, §28.002(h), requires the SBOE and each school district to require the teaching of informed patriotism, Texas history, and the free enterprise system in the adoption of instructional materials for kindergarten through grade 12, including the founding documents of the United States.

TEC, §28.002(h-1), requires the SBOE to adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic knowledge, including an understanding of the fundamental moral, political, and intellectual foundations of the American experiment in self-government; the history, qualities, traditions, and features of civic government in the United States; the structure, function, and processes of local, state, and federal, government institutions; and the founding documents of the United States.

TEC, §28.002(h-2), requires the SBOE to adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic knowledge, including an understanding of the fundamental moral, political, entrepreneurial, and intellectual foundations of the American experiment in self-government; the history, qualities, traditions, and features of civic government in the United States; the structure, function, and processes of local, state, and federal, government institutions; and the founding documents of the United States; the ability to analyze and determine the reliability of information sources, formulate and articulate reasoned positions, understand the manner in which local, state, and federal governments works and operates through the use of simulations and models of governmental and democratic processes, actively listen and engage in civic discourse, and participate as a citizen in a constitutional democracy by voting; and an appreciation of the importance and responsibility of participating in civic life, a commitment to the United States and its form of government, and a commitment to free speech and civil discourse.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: Discussion followed by first reading and filing authorization of proposed new 19 TAC, Chapter 113, Subchapters A and B, will be presented at a future SBOE meeting.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The TEKS for social studies and economics were originally adopted effective September 1, 1998. The Kindergarten-Grade 12 social studies TEKS and the TEKS for economics were revised effective August 23, 2010. In 2018, the SBOE approved streamlining revisions to the social studies TEKS for Kindergarten to Grade 8 and four high school social studies courses.

In 2021, the 87th Texas Legislature also passed House Bill (HB) 4509 (Regular Session, 2021) and SB 3 (Second-Called Session, 2021), to require the teaching of informed patriotism and the founding documents of the United States and require the SBOE to adopt essential knowledge and skills for social studies that develop each student's civic knowledge, including an understanding of the fundamental moral, political, and intellectual foundations of the U.S. government.

At the June and November 2021 SBOE meetings, the board discussed the review of the social studies TEKS. Board members designated content advisors for the social studies TEKS review in August 2021. An application to serve on work groups was posted on the TEA website in September 2021. Additionally, in September 2021, a survey was posted on the TEA website to ask for feedback on the current TEKS for social studies. TEA staff provided SBOE members applications for approval to serve on the social studies work groups in September, October, and November 2021 and January and April 2022. The content advisors convened to discuss consensus recommendations in December 2021 and January 2022. Work groups were convened to develop recommendations for the social studies TEKS in January, February, March, and April 2022.

At the April SBOE meeting, the board instructed staff to convene work groups to develop recommendations for revised social studies TEKS for kindergarten through grade 2 that include expectations with more content knowledge organized around themes to be identified by work groups. The board also instructed staff to have work groups make recommendations for revised social studies TEKS for grades 3-8 that would cover history chronologically in a six-year cycle that would include Texas, U.S., and world history.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support