The Committee of the Full Board voted on Thursday to recommend that the State Board of Education renew the American Indian and Native Studies innovative course for state credit, advancing the course to full‑board consideration after extensive public testimony and a legal briefing.

The committee’s recommendation passed 9–5 in a roll call after more than a dozen speakers — including tribal citizens, educators, university scholars and a Cherokee student — urged renewal in order to make a dedicated Native studies elective available to Texas students.

Why it matters

The course would be available as a locally offered elective that school districts can adopt for graduation credit. Supporters said the elective fills a gap in K–12 offerings and can increase student engagement and civic knowledge. Opponents and some board members raised concerns about content alignment and whether recently enacted state laws limit how race and related topics may be taught in elective courses.

What public speakers said

- Laura (Yoantlaue) Rio Ramirez, representing Calpulia Yolopaxin, said the course “teach[es] the principles of being indigenous in our communities” and urged districts to be able to “opt in” to provide local choice.
- Samprathana Kundera of Asian Texans for Justice said ethnic studies “does not create division. Rather, it helps us recognize our collective histories” and said the elective “gives students the choice to explore their education through meaningful engagement.”
- Thomas Doherty, who described himself as a new citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and his son Walter Doherty, 10, testified about family heritage and identity. Walter told the board: “I’m a proud American, a proud Texan, and a very proud Cherokee citizen.”
- Teachers, a university researcher and a school board trustee said pilot versions increased student engagement and academic outcomes; one postdoctoral scholar noted research linking ethnic‑studies programs to improved standardized test scores and GPA in pilot settings.

Legal briefing and staff review

Will Wasdorf of the Texas Attorney General’s office told the committee the AG’s office would not evaluate specific curricula in the meeting but outlined recent legal changes members should weigh. He cited earlier legislation (HB 3979 and SB 3) and the most recent 2025 legislation (SB 12), which restricts certain “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) activities and prohibits school districts from assigning DEI duties unless required by law. Wasdorf said the critical question is not a course title but “how that history is represented,” and he cautioned members to review course materials against SB 12’s language.

TEA staff presented a materials review of the course’s recommended resources. Agency reviewers flagged specific database excerpts and web materials for the board’s review (the reviewer report lists module‑by‑module citations and the passages staff considered potentially problematic). TEA staff told members the materials review did not automatically mean a violation; rather it was intended to surface items the board may want to examine further.

Board action and vote

Member Hickman moved the recommendation to approve the innovative course for state credit; the motion was seconded. The committee then called the question and conducted a roll‑call vote. Votes recorded in committee (yes/no):

Yes — Revels; Perez Diaz; Childs; Balmedera; Hickman; Ellis; Little; Clark; Brooks (9)
No — Francis; Pickering; Young; Maynard; Hall (5)

The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the full State Board of Education for final action at the board’s next opportunity. TEA staff noted that, per rules, a SBOE‑approved innovative course may be considered for inclusion in the TEKS adoption process later, and staff reminded members that local districts retain authority to choose which elective resources they use if they adopt the course.

Ending

Supporters said renewing the course preserves local choice and gives students a structured way to learn Native histories and contemporary tribal sovereignty. Legal counsel said the board should carefully review materials against the new state statutes before adoption into TEKS. The full board will consider the committee’s recommendation at the next board meeting.