State board holds wide-ranging workshop on social studies TEKS framework; SB24 deadline and Texas history prominence surface as key issues

The Committee of the Full Board held a work session on Sept. 8, 2025, to review proposals for the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) framework, course sequences and organizing strands for K–8 social studies. The session reviewed multiple strand and course‑sequence models, survey and focus‑group results, and legal and timetable constraints introduced by Senate Bill 24 (the so‑called anti‑communism statute). No final framework was adopted; the board signaled it will continue deliberations and may post framework options for action at an upcoming meeting.

The session opened with a summary of the agency’s TEKS review process and the statutory deadline imposed by Senate Bill 24. TEA staff told the board the agency has a multi‑step (40‑step) TEKS revision process and that SB24 requires review and revision of social studies TEKS by July 31, 2026. Staff also summarized survey and focus‑group outreach: 491 written survey responses were received and regional content‑expert focus groups were convened.

Why it matters: The board writes the content standards that structure social studies instruction statewide. Those standards drive curriculum, instructional materials adoptions and, indirectly, what students learn. SB24 added a statutory requirement to adopt standards that address certain content related to communist regimes; the board must finish a TEKS cycle that satisfies the new law by mid‑2026 while also responding to broader concerns raised by educators and the public.

Options presented Staff and the ad hoc committee…