Social Studies TEKS Streamlining
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
- Phone:
- (512) 463-9581
- Email:
- teks@tea.texas.gov
The State Board of Education (SBOE) has legislative authority to adopt the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for each subject of the required curriculum. In June 2017, the SBOE approved a process that was used to streamline the social studies TEKS. SBOE members nominated educators, parents, business and industry representatives, and employers to serve on the TEKS streamlining work groups. This page provides information regarding the streamlining of the social studies TEKS.
Streamlined Social Studies TEKS, Adopted 2018
The State Board of Education (SBOE) gave final approval on November 16, 2018, to the streamlined social studies TEKS for K–8 and five high school social studies courses.
Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5)
The streamlined social studies TEKS for kindergarten–grade 5 were effective on August 1, 2020, and implemented in classrooms beginning with the 2020–2021 school year.
Middle School and High School (Grades 6–8 and High School)
The streamlined social studies TEKS for middle school and high school were effective on August 1, 2019, and implemented in classrooms beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.
Streamlined Social Studies TEKS Review Process
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November 2018 SBOE Meeting
At the September 2018 State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting, the SBOE approved for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to streamline the social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for kindergarten – grade 8 and five high school courses. The proposed revisions would streamline the social studies TEKS with a recommended implementation date of the 2019-2020 school year. The SBOE is scheduled to consider proposed revisions for second reading and final adoption at its November 2018 meeting.
The following document shows the historical figures that are included in the proposed revisions to the social studies TEKS. The document also indicates changes approved by the SBOE at the September 2018 meeting.
Alphabetized list of all names included with grade level or course designation
Amendments to be Considered at Second Reading
Amendments to be considered by the SBOE on Friday, November 16, 2018, for second reading and final adoption of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, are available here.
Work Group E Drafts
Work Group E Final Recommendations
Work Group E reconvened for a second meeting in late August 2018 to finalize the work group’s recommendations. The work group made additional changes to streamline the standards and ensure that the final recommendations are vertically aligned. These documents reflect Work Group E's final recommendations to the board.
Click on the items below to download a PDF. Use the bookmarks on the left-hand side of the document to navigate to a specific grade level or course.
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Group E Final Recommendations, Elementary - August 2018 (PDF, 1,583 KB)
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Group E Final Recommendations, Middle School - August 2018 (PDF, 1,630 KB)
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Group E Final Recommendations, High School - August 2018 (PDF, 1,547 KB)
Work Group E Draft Recommendations
Work Group E reviewed the combined draft recommendations that were presented to the State Board of Education (SBOE) for discussion at the June 2018 SBOE meeting. The work group looked for gaps in content and redundancies across grade levels and courses. The work group also made recommendations to further streamline the social studies TEKS.
The Work Group E draft recommendations are provided below. These documents reflect Work Group E's draft recommendations as of August 4, 2018.
Click on the items below to download a PDF. Use the bookmarks on the left-hand side of the document to navigate to a specific grade level or course.
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Group E Draft Recommendations, Elementary - August 2018 (PDF, 1,190 KB)
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Group E Draft Recommendations, Middle School - August 2018 (PDF, 1,019 KB)
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Group E Draft Recommendations, High School - August 2018 (PDF, 1,605 KB)
June 2018 SBOE MeetingThe State Board of Education held a discussion item on the proposed revisions to the social studies TEKS at their June 2018 meeting. The following documents reflect the combined recommendations of Work Groups C and D and are organized by grade level and course. Click on the items below to download a PDF. Use the bookmarks on the left-hand side of the document to navigate to a specific grade level or course.
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Draft Recommendations, Elementary - June 2018 (PDF, 1,404 KB)
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Draft Recommendations, Middle School - June 2018 (PDF, 1,244 KB)
Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Draft Recommendations, High School - June 2018 (PDF, 1,565 KB)
Work Group D Drafts
Work Group D was tasked with reviewing the recommendations from Work Groups A, B and C and with making recommendations for streamlining student expectations that fall under the strands or courses identified below.
Work Group D recommendations are provided below. Click on the items below to download a PDF. Use the bookmarks on the left-hand side of the document to navigate to a specific grade level or course.
Strands
Culture and Science/Technology/Society Strands, Kindergarten – High School (PDF, 1,279 KB)
Economics Strand, Kindergarten – High School (PDF, 867 KB)
Geography Strand, Kindergarten – High School (PDF, 969 KB)
Government and Citizenship Strands, Kindergarten – High School (PDF, 1,448 KB)
Social Studies Skills Strand, Kindergarten – High School (PDF, 1,098 KB)
U.S. Government and Economics Courses
United States Government, High School Course (PDF, 978 KB)
Work Group C Drafts
Work Group C was tasked with reviewing the recommendations from Work Groups A and B and with making recommendations for streamlining student expectations that fall under the strands identified below.
Work Group C recommendations are provided below. Click on the items below to download a PDF. Use the bookmarks on the left-hand side of the document to navigate to a specific grade level or course.
Kindergarten – Grade 3 – history strand (PDF, 220KB)
Texas History, Grades 4 and 7 – history strand (PDF, 247KB)
Geography, Grade 6 and High School – history and geography strands (PDF, 233KB)
U.S. History, Grades 5 and 8 and High School – history strand (PDF, 400KB)
World History Studies – history strand (PDF, 243KB)
Work Group B Drafts
Based on a recommendation from Work Group A, Work Group B was asked to evaluate the list of historical figures in each grade level and course that contain historical figures. Work group members developed a rubric to use for their evaluation. The Work Group B rubric is provided below. Click on the item below to download a PDF.
Historical Figures Rubric (PDF, 382KB)
Work Group A Drafts
Work Group A completed recommendations for future work groups based on results of the social studies streamlining survey and feedback from Education Service Centers (ESCs) on the scope of the current TEKS. Work Group A drafts are provided below. Click on each item below to download a PDF.
Kindergarten–Grade 4 (PDF, 847KB)
Grade 5 (PDF, 1840KB)
Grade 6 (PDF, 1760KB)
Grade 7 (PDF, 1803KB)
Grade 8 (PDF, 1870KB)
World Geography Studies (PDF, 1228KB)
World History Studies (PDF, 639KB)
United States History Studies Since 1877 (PDF, 1772KB)
U.S. Government (PDF, 691KB)
Economics (PDF, 729KB)
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Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Groups
The SBOE's new TEKS review and revision process calls for multiple, separate work groups. Nominations to serve on TEKS work groups will be made throughout the TEKS review process. The following list includes individuals appointed by the SBOE to serve on the Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Groups.
SBOE Social Studies TEKS Streamlining Work Groups (PDF, 173KB)
Work Groups
Applications were submitted to SBOE members for review throughout the process. Based on that review, SBOE members made nominations to work groups. TEA notified applicants of their nominations at each stage in the streamlining process.
- Work group members will be expected to complete an online orientation session prior to their work group meeting. Work group members may be asked to complete an initial review prior to their work group meeting.
- TEKS work groups will convene in Austin for a minimum of one face-to-face meeting. Meeting times and dates for the different work groups will be shared with the SBOE's appointees for each work group. Additional meetings conducted by webinar may also be scheduled as necessary.
- Work group members may be asked to provide invited testimony at SBOE meetings.
- Work group members will be reimbursed in accordance with state travel guidelines for travel, meals, and lodging for meetings held in Austin.
- Questions related to the application for the social studies TEKS streamlining process can be directed to teks@tea.texas.gov.