By Chloe Latham-Sikes, Ph.D. • Knowledge is Power • December 2, 2021 •

The Texas Education Agency needs input and interested reviewers to make changes to the K-12 social studies learning standards, also known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The Texas Legislature passed changes to the social studies TEKS and instruction earlier this year through HB 3979 (in the 2021 regular session) and then SB 3 (in the legislature’s second special session).

Lawmakers pushed these bills through with minimal opportunities for community input. Educators, parents and other community members can influence how these changes affect Texas classrooms by sharing input and becoming workgroup reviewers.

Complete a Survey to Share Your Input

TEA is collecting information from educators and other interested individuals on how the social studies learning standards should be changed. One way you can provide input is to complete TEA’s survey about the Texas social studies learning standards. Survey questions include ranking the importance of teaching certain main subject areas, such as world history, geography and U.S. History, assessing how sufficiently key social studies concepts are included in current standards, and providing input on how to make social studies TEKS comprehensive and grade-appropriate.

Apply to Become a Workgroup Reviewer

TEA also needs workgroups of interested and committed people to develop recommendations to the social studies TEKS. Workgroups operate on a rolling basis and will provide key recommendations for the State Board of Education to review before adopting changes to the social studies TEKS. If you are interested, you will need to fill out an online application, which reportedly takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete.


[©2021, IDRA. This article originally appeared in the December 2, 2021, edition of Knowledge is Power by the Intercultural Development Research Association. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]

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