September 10, 2025 Committee of the Full Board Item 3

Discussion and Action on Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Framework

September 12, 2025

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to discuss and potentially take action on the Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Framework.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002(a) and (c), and 28.025(a).

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 identify by rule 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, §28.025(a), requires the SBOE to determine by rule the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school program that are consistent with the required curriculum and requires the SBOE to designate specific courses that are required for the foundation high school program.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the links above.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: In October 2024, the Chairman of the SBOE established an Ad Hoc Committee on Social Studies Standards. The Committee is charged to evaluate Texas's current social studies learning standards, research best practices in history and civics education, and provide recommendations for developing exemplary state standards, ensuring that Texas students receive a high-quality social studies education that prepares them for informed citizenship.

The goal of the Committee is to provide clear, actionable recommendations for developing social studies curriculum standards that will position Texas as a national leader in history and civics education. The standards should equip students with essential knowledge of American and Texas history, geography, and civic institutions while fostering the skills and dispositions needed for engaged citizenship in a diverse democratic republic.

A public hearing on recommendations for a framework to guide the organization of the TEKS for social studies, including the identification of core content topics that students should know in U.S. history, Texas history, world history, geography and civics in Kindergarten - Grade 12, was conducted during the April 10, 2025 Ad Hoc Committee on Social Studies meeting. Agency staff presented an update on the status and progress of the Social Studies Ad Hoc Committee’s charges and the Committee of the Full Board heard public testimony at the June 2025 SBOE meeting.

Staff Member Responsible:
Shannon Trejo, Deputy Commissioner, Office of School Programs