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November 2024

July 2025

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:

July Social Studies and Reading Language Arts Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

Topic: K–5 Cross-Curricular Connections for Social Studies and Reading Language Arts and Reading

Target Audience: Social Studies and Reading Language Arts Stakeholders - Teachers, District Administrators, Campus Administrators, Education Service Center Specialists, Parents, Professional Organizations

Session Description:  The TEA social studies and reading language arts curriculum team will share the K-5 Cross-Curricular Connections Tool for Social Studies and English Language Arts and Reading. The team will explain the different parts of this tool and share how this tool supports cross-curricular instructional planning. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to participate in questions and discussion with members of the TEA social studies and reading language arts curriculum team.

Date and Times: 

Session 1: Tuesday, July 15, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. July 15 registration link

Session 2: Wednesday, July 16, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. July 16 registration link

Session 3: Thursday, July 17, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. July 17 registration link

The information shared will be the same in each meeting.

August Social Studies Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

Topic:  Celebrate Freedom Week

Target Audience: Social Studies and Reading Language Arts Stakeholders - Teachers, District Administrators, Campus Administrators, Education Service Center Specialists, Parents, Professional Organizations

Session Description:

In this stakeholder engagement session, the TEA social studies and reading language arts curriculum team will focus on Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC §29.907), which occurs each year during the week that includes September 17. During this week each year, 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. The session will also highlight the upcoming semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Date and Times:

Monday, August 25, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. August 25 registration link

Tuesday, August 26, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. August 26 registration link

State Board of Education Update

The State Board of Education (SBOE) Ad Hoc Committee on Social Studies presented a report to SBOE members on June 26, 2025. The

presentation included an overview of the ad hoc committee’s timeline, research, key elements of a framework review process, and their recommendations. Meeting minutes and presentation materials for the ad hoc committee are available on the SBOE Ad Hoc Committee on Social Studies web page.

American Patriotism Month

House Bill 2703, enacted by the 89th Texas Legislature and effective May 28, 2025, officially designates the month of July as American Patriotism Month to celebrate the United States of America and honor the values and principles on which it was founded. To learn more about American Patriotism month see House Bill 2703.

TEA Releases Spring 2025 STAAR® Results 

In June, TEA released the Spring 2025 results for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) for grades 3–8 and high school end-of-course (EOC) assessments.

The results include assessments in reading language arts (RLA) and mathematics in grades 3-8, as well as 5th and 8th grade science and 8th grade social studies.  An overview of the results is provided in the Spring 2025 STAAR® Grades 3–8 Results news release. A more detailed statewide summary of 2025 STAAR 3-8 results is available on TEA’s website. 

The EOC results are a key measure of how Texas students are performing in Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II and U.S. History.   An overview of the results is provided in the 2025 STAAR® End-of-Course Assessment Results news release. A more detailed statewide summary of 2025 STAAR EOC results is available on TEA’s website. 

Texas Assessment Research Portal

The Texas Assessment Research Portal is a public portal designed for users to generate reports for summary state assessment data. Data can be viewed and compared by state, region, district or campus, and further broken down by demographic groups. The portal can be accessed with a desktop, laptop, or tablet. It is not optimized for mobile phones.

As a courtesy to our newsletter subscribers, the following additional announcement is also included.

Texas Historical Commission’s New Texas History Navigator App

The Texas Historical Commission has launched an interactive mobile tool designed to locate and explore Texas historical markers and sites. Users of the app can read or listen to detailed descriptions, locate nearby landmarks, and plan personalized historical journeys across Texas. To learn more, visit the Texas Historical Commission web page for the Texas History Navigator.

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

For questions or additional information, please visit the Social Studies web page or submit a Curriculum Request Form through the TEA Help Desk.

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