Spanish Curriculum Standards Newsletter

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Holocaust Remembrance Week: January 26–30, 2026

The mission of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) is to combat and confront hatred, prejudice, and indifference by educating all Texans about the Holocaust and other genocides in an effort to dismantle antisemitism and prevent such future atrocities.   

Instructional resources provided by the THGAAC are available to local educational agencies throughout the year, especially during Holocaust Remembrance Week, which next occurs the week of January 23–30, 2026. During this week, Texas Education Code, §29.9072,requires public schools to provide age-appropriate instruction on the Holocaust using resources developed or approved by the THGAAC.   

The THGAAC web page for Holocaust Remembrance Week provides resources that can be used during Holocaust Remembrance Week as well as other times of the year:

• Holocaust Instruction Requirements for Texas Schools
• How to Teach About the Holocaust
• Approved Holocaust Resources for Grades K-5
• Approved Holocaust Resources for Grades 6-8
• Approved Holocaust Resources for Grades 9-12
• Request a THGAAC Speaker for Your Classroom, Campus, or Community Event

Additionally, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum offers Holocaust Remembrance Week resources, including the following:

• Virtual Professional Development:  January 12: 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Quick virtual professional development to gain a better understanding of key resources and strategies provided by the Museum for Holocaust Remembrance Week. Register at https://dhhrm.formstack.com/forms/virtual_hrw_pd_2026. 

• Resource and Lesson Portal: 

Educators can access an open resource and lesson portal at https://dhhrm.canto.com/v/HolocaustRemembranceWeek/. Lessons and resources are approved by the THGAAC and include ready-to-go morning announcements, daily plans, student projects, and lesson plans for elementary and secondary grades. 

• Free Virtual Field Trips:

Students will be guided by expert tour leaders who will connect live from the exhibition, offering a unique opportunity to explore Holocaust history, powerful artifacts, and firsthand testimonies. Register at https://dhhrm.formstack.com/forms/holocaust_remembrance_week_vft_request_2026. 

• Tours of Holocaust Wing in the Permanent Exhibition (45 minutes - 6^th grade and above)
• January 26: 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• January 27: 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• January 28: 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• January 30: 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
• Tours from Kindertransport - Rescuing Children on the Brink of War Special Exhibition (30 minutes - 4th grade and up)
• January 26: 8:30 a.m.
• January 27: 9:00 a.m.
• January 28: 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
• January 30: 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Black History Month: February 2026

Each year, during February, we celebrate the history and cultural contributions of Black Americans in the United States. Students will explore over 400 years of Black history within the broader context of American history.

The following websites provide a variety of lessons, activities, and instructional materials that can be used to honor Black History Month. These and additional websites are provided on the Black History Month | Texas Education Agency web page.

Texas State History Museum - The African American Story

From the Bob Bullock Museum, this website provides a historical overview of the history, culture, and contributions of African Americans in Texas.

Texas State Historical Association Handbook of African American Texas 

The Handbook of African American Texas contains more than 850 entries written to create greater awareness and to increase research on the roles and contributions that Afro-Texans have made to their neighborhoods, cities, state, and often the nation and beyond. The African Americans article provides an overview of the history of African Americans in Texas with links to external resources embedded within the text.

RLA Stakeholder Engagement Session Recording Is Now Available

In October, the TEA reading language arts (RLA) curriculum team hosted stakeholder engagement sessions and shared answers to Reading Language Arts frequently asked questions.

To access the recording of the October stakeholder engagement session, “Reading Language Arts Frequently Asked Questions,” please visit the “Recent English Language Arts Communications” section of the English Language Arts and Reading | Texas Education Agency web page.

2026–2028 Interactive Online Learning Grant, Cycle 3 Application

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is providing a competitive grant opportunity to award funding to support the implementation of effective cross-curricular interactive online learning models in U.S. history and/or Texas history for instruction in history and language arts. All school districts and open enrollment charter schools are eligible to apply for funding to support the implementation of interactive online learning models in middle school and high school, as applicable, in the 2026-2027and 2027-2028 school years. The 2026-2028 Interactive Online Learning Grant, Cycle 3 application is available on the TEA Grants Opportunities web page.

Key Dates

Request for Feedback for Updated Content: IMRA Cycle 2024 and 2025

The Substitutions and Content Updates webpage has been updated with requests to update content in materials approved under IMRA Cycle 2024 and IMRA Cycle 2025. 

The public is invited to review and comment on the proposed content changes. 

Please submit an Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) ticket if you need assistance. 

TELPAS Transition-Year Assessments (2026–2027 and 2027–2028)

In the Fall of 2024, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted new English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS). These new standards will become effective in classrooms in the 2026–2027 school year. As a result of the changes to the ELPS, the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) will transition to a new assessment.

Before the new assessment is implemented, transition-year assessments will be used during the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 school years. Additional information about the transition years, including assessed curriculum documents, can be found on the TELPAS and TELPAS Alternate pages on the TEA website.

Please contact the TEA Student Assessment Help Desk if you have any questions related to the TELPAS transition-year assessments.

Texas State Board of Education Meeting, January 27–30, 2026

The next meeting of the State Board of Education (SBOE) will occur January 27–30, 2026. An agenda is published on the SBOE web page prior to each meeting. The TEA provides meeting webcasts for anyone interested in watching from a computer or device. Archived webcasts are also available. To access these SBOE meeting resources, please visit the SBOE web page. 

Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.

Foundation Team
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
(512) 463-9581

For questions or additional information, please visit the Spanish Language Support | Texas Education Agency web page or submit a Curriculum Request Form through the TEA Help Desk.