Changes to Social Studies Curriculum in Texas

The Texas State Board of Education has started making changes to the K-12 social studies curriculum. The new learning materials will focus more on Texas and U.S. history, while reducing the emphasis on world history and cultures.

The 15-member board, which has a Republican majority, discussed key topics that will be included in the new framework approved in September. They heard from teachers, parents, and students about which periods, events, and historical figures should be represented in the curriculum.

“The last big question today is, what is worth knowing?” said Julia Brookins, of the American Historical Association, during public comment. “There is a real opportunity here to support social studies instruction that opens up worlds of learning to Texas students.”

The board is in the early stages of revising the social studies learning standards, which are expected to be adopted in June 2026 and implemented in the 2030 school year.

What’s Changing in the Curriculum?

The new blueprint eliminates the world cultures class in sixth grade, and only up to 5% of the grade’s curriculum will focus on world history. In eighth grade, the curriculum will focus almost entirely on Texas history, whereas it previously focused on U.S. history.

From kindergarten to second grade, students will learn about the stories of America and Texas. In third through seventh grades, social studies will connect world, U.S., and Texas histories, with world cultures and geography taught where appropriate. In eighth grade, the course will teach the history of Texas and America as leaders in the nation and world.

The board has previewed broad topics to be included in the framework, including the River Valley civilizations, ancient Israel, and ancient Rome in the third grade, and Texas during its early statehood and the contemporary era in the eighth grade.

Reactions to the Changes

Some members of the state board, teachers, and students have raised concerns about the changes. Steven Mintz, a history professor at UT Austin, said the social studies standards are “imbalanced” and will not prepare students for college, as they will not learn about important topics like Egypt, China, and Islam.

“This is an abomination of history, if we want to prepare students,” he said.

Others, like Spring Davis-Webster, a history teacher from Humble, want even more Texas and U.S. history in the new curriculum. “Protecting U.S. history from dilution is not political. It is patriotic,” she said.

Related

The board formed a social studies ad hoc committee, chaired by Aaron Kinsey, to evaluate social studies standards. The committee pointed to a decline in eighth graders’ proficiency in U.S. history and civics, with scores dropping to levels seen in the 1990s, and listed weak state standards as a reason.

Controversy Over Advisers

The state board appointed a panel of nine advisers to provide feedback on the current social studies standards and develop recommendations. However, Texas Freedom Network, an advocacy group, launched a petition calling for the removal of three advisers: David Barton, David Randall, and Jordan Adams, due to their controversial views on history and education.

David Barton, an evangelical author and Christian activist, has advocated for the inclusion of the Bible in social studies instruction. Jordan Adams has urged school officials to stray from diversity efforts and “critical race theory.” David Randall has advocated against identity politics in the classroom.

In response, Donald Frazier, an adviser and director of The Texas Center at Schreiner University, said the process is still preliminary, and critics should wait to see what emerges. “They might discover that they are pleasantly surprised,” he said.

Yolanda Leyva, a University of Texas at El Paso history professor who sits on the panel, senses a push to the right and wants to ensure underrepresented stories, like anti-Mexican violence in Texas, are covered in the new curriculum.

Related

The board will meet in January to discuss drafted recommendations for the social studies standards.

Conclusion

The changes to the social studies curriculum in Texas have sparked controversy and debate. While some argue that the new curriculum will provide a more focused and patriotic education, others believe that it will leave out important topics and perspectives. The board will continue to work on the new curriculum, and it remains to be seen how the final product will look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the main changes to the social studies curriculum in Texas?

A: The new curriculum will focus more on Texas and U.S. history, while reducing the emphasis on world history and cultures.

Q: Why are some people opposed to the changes?

A: Some people believe that the new curriculum will leave out important topics and perspectives, and that it will not prepare students for college or the real world.

Q: Who are the advisers on the social studies standards panel?

A: The panel includes nine advisers, including David Barton, David Randall, and Jordan Adams, who have been criticized for their views on history and education.

Q: What is the timeline for the implementation of the new curriculum?

A: The new curriculum is expected to be adopted in June 2026 and implemented in the 2030 school year.