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August 2024

Social Studies

Curriculum Standards and Student Support

Social Studies Newsletter

Thank you for subscribing to the TEA social studies newsletter.  

This issue of the TEA social studies newsletter provides information on the following topics:

• Revised Social Studies TEKS Are Now Implemented for the 2024-

   2025 School Year
• TEA Resources for the Revised Social Studies TEKS
• August Social Studies Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

   Topic: Celebrate Freedom Week Requirements and Resources

   Dates: August 26 and 27
• Updated Innovative Course Application Timeline
• The Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) Can Help Meet

   Students’ Social Studies Course Needs

How helpful is the information included in this newsletter? 

Revised Social Studies TEKS Are Now Implemented in the 2024-2025 School Year 

REMINDER: Revised social studies TEKS adopted in 2022 are now implemented for the 2024-2025 school year.

To access the web-based version of the current social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do, click here. 

TEA Resources for the Revised Social Studies TEKS: Crosswalks and Skills Matrices

TEA has developed resources to support the implementation of the revised social studies standards.  The skills matrices provide a detailed look at the social studies skills strand by grade band (Kindergarten- Grade 5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12). Each grade level/course TEKS crosswalk provides a summary of the TEKS revisions and shows the differences between the 2018 TEKS and the 2022 TEKS being implemented in the 2024-2025 school year.

You can access these resources in the table below or under the “Social Studies TEKS Resources” section of the TEA social studies web page.

For additional information about the social studies TEKS that are now implemented in the 2024-2025 year, please visit the FAQ document via the link below.

Frequently Asked Questions: Social Studies TEKS Revision and Instructional Materials

August Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

Topic: Celebrate Freedom Week

Target Audience: Social Studies Stakeholders: Teachers, District Administrators, Campus Administrators, Education Service Center Specialists, Parents, Professional Organizations

Session Description: The TEA social studies team will focus on Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC § 29.907), which occurs each year during the week that includes September 17. During this week Texas schools emphasize the values and ideals on which the United States was founded as well as the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the founding of the country. This TEA stakeholder engagement session will highlight Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and required instruction related to Celebrate Freedom Week and instructional resources found on the TEA Celebrate Freedom Week web page.

Dates & Times:

Monday, August 26 @ 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Registration Link 

Tuesday, August 27 @ 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Registration Link 

Updated Innovative Course Application Timeline

To benefit both innovative course applicants and LEAs (local education agencies) who wish to implement innovative courses, the timeline for future innovative course application cycles has been updated. The updated timeline is designed to provide additional time for the following: 

• Applicants to complete applications
• Applicants to receive local board approval
• Applicants to complete course pilots and analyze data
• Districts and open-enrollment charters to plan for innovative course implementation

Courses that are approved will be available for implementation beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. 

The 2025-2026 application cycle for innovative courses closes on September 13, 2024. The complete innovative course application timeline is available on the TEA innovative courses webpage. 

The Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) Can Help Meet Students’ Social Studies Course Needs

Need help meeting a student’s social studies course needs? 

The Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) can help meet students’ needs through TEA-approved online courses. The TXVSN statewide course catalog provides schools and students access to high school, Advanced Placement, career and technical education, and dual credit courses for initial credit or credit recovery. The course catalog provides fifteen unique social studies courses to help students meet their learning goals and graduation requirements.

Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.

Social Studies Team
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
curriculum@tea.texas.gov
(512) 463-9581

The Texas Education Agency will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.