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Efforts to streamline the state’s lengthy Social Studies
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for kindergarten through high
school are under way.
Educator work groups have been working for months to delete,
combine, clarify and narrow the scope of the standards as part of the
streamlining process. The one thing they are not doing is proposing the
addition of new curriculum standards.
A
new social studies course now called Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies
won unanimous preliminary approval from the State Board of Education on June
15.
A
second and final vote on the curriculum standards for this course will occur at
the board’s Sept. 11-14 meeting. If approved as is expected, this one-credit
elective course will then become the first SBOE-approved ethnic studies course
in Texas and one of the few available at the high school level in the country.
The Texas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
recently presented State Board of Education member Marisa Perez-Diaz, left, and board
Chair Donna Bahorich, above, with the 2018 Director’s Leadership Award for their
efforts to create a Mexican American Studies course. Both board members spoke
at the summer LULAC convention. State LULAC Director Lupe Torres presented the award
to Perez-Diaz at the convention in San Antonio and to Bahorich at the June
SBOE board meeting.
Photo credit: TEA and LULAC
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Twenty-one applicants applied for a state charter this year but only four survived the rigorous process and were authorized to open new charter schools in the 2019-2020 school year. The new schools will be located in Lubbock, San Antonio and two in Houston.
A student art contest, sponsored by the State Board of
Education, will help brand a Texas treasure, the $33.8 billion Permanent School
Fund. In an effort to raise the profile of the fund, the board is asking high
school students to design a logo or seal for this education endowment fund. The
student who designs the winning logo will receive a $3,000 cash award and the
runner-up will receive $1,000.
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 Though this is a time when the world’s attention is
appropriately focused on ways to stop random acts of violence against
schoolchildren, the State Board of Education focused its attention this spring
on honoring 15 public school students who have demonstrated inspiring acts of
kindness and compassion. From hosting toy drives for hospitalized children to
providing blankets to those in need, these students showed they had hearts as
big as Texas. It’s no wonder that they were selected to receive the board’s
Student Hero Award.
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A summary of actions taken by the State Board of Education at its June meeting is available online.
 Katie Negen, SBOE Chair Donna Bahorich, and Jennifer Fuller
The State Board of Education recently recognized two Texas
teachers who received the Milken Educator Award. Called the “Oscars of
Teaching” by Teacher magazine, the
award recognizes outstanding teachers who are early to mid-career educators.
This year’s recipients are Katie Negen of the Slaton Independent School
District and Jennifer Fuller of Arlington ISD. Both are following in their
mothers’ footsteps. Along with the public recognition, each award winner
receives a $25,000 cash prize. Texas has participated in this program sponsored
by the Milken Family Foundation since 2000.
 SBOE member Ruben Cortez Jr., center, congratulates Banquete ISD officials
The State Board of Education commended the 2017 National Blue Ribbon Schools by passing a resolution in their honor in June.
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