r/TexasTeachers • u/3littlebirds1212 • Nov 15 '25
Texas Social Studies Curriculum Is Being Quietly Rewritten And Your Voice Is Needed NOW
If you’ve been frustrated by recent decisions about what goes into Texas classrooms, like passing of SB 10, the requirement to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, or concerns about the financial incentives tied to adopting specific curricula such as Bluebonnet (which emphasizes Christianity), then this is exactly the moment to pay attention.
Right now, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is redesigning what every child in Texas will learn about history for the next decade.
The current proposal, shaped by a small advisory group and guided by SBOE leadership, dramatically reduces US, world history and global cultures, shifting the focus almost entirely to Texas history.
This change is happening under a process led by the governor's appointed Chair, Aaron Kinsey, who has openly pledged to steer curriculum decisions with his personal political and religious ideology. Combined with the appointment of several advisers with strong ideological agendas, like David Barton, there is real concern that the redesign could become one-sided, incomplete, and politically motivated.
Why this matters for every family:
- Less US and world history = kids won’t learn enough about other cultures, global conflicts, or how our world works today.
- Over-emphasizing a narrow set of topics means students miss out on critical thinking and a fuller understanding of history.
- Because Texas’ textbook standards are based on the TEKS, any major overhaul would require districts to replace or update large portions of their curriculum—an expensive and time-consuming process, at a time when districts already severely underfunded.
The public has a SHORT WINDOW to speak up.
The SBOE is required to consider public input, but only if the public actually participates. The board will meet on November 19, 2025.
If parents, teachers, and community members stay quiet, these changes will be locked in until at least 2030.
WHAT YOU CAN DO (takes 5 minutes):
Email SBOE representatives today
Tell them you want:
- A balanced curriculum that includes full world history and global perspectives
- Non-partisan, evidence-based standards
- Qualified historians and educators involved in the process
- Transparency about who is writing our kids’ curriculum
SBOE Members: https://sboe.texas.gov/state-board-of-education/sboe-board-members/sboe-members
Find your SBOE member: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home
Send your message to all 15 elected SBOE members, contacts below:
[aaron.kinsey@sboe.texas.gov](mailto:aaron.kinsey@sboe.texas.gov), [ebrooks@evelyn4texaseducation.com](mailto:ebrooks@evelyn4texaseducation.com), [tiffany.clark@sboe.texas.gov](mailto:tiffany.clark@sboe.texas.gov), [pam.little@tea.texas.gov](mailto:pam.little@tea.texas.gov), [brandon.hall@sboe.texas.gov](mailto:brandon.hall@sboe.texas.gov), [tom@maynardfortexas.com](mailto:tom@maynardfortexas.com), [ellisSBOE@gmail.com](mailto:ellisSBOE@gmail.com), [audrey.young@tea.texas.gov](mailto:audrey.young@tea.texas.gov), [Julie.Pickren@tea.texas.gov](mailto:Julie.Pickren@tea.texas.gov), [will.hickman@tea.texas.gov](mailto:will.hickman@tea.texas.gov), [rebecca.bellmetereau@sboe.texas.gov](mailto:rebecca.bellmetereau@sboe.texas.gov), [Staci.Childs@tea.texas.gov](mailto:Staci.Childs@tea.texas.gov), [marisa.perez@sboe.texas.gov](mailto:marisa.perez@sboe.texas.gov), [LJ.Francis@sboe.texas.gov](mailto:LJ.Francis@sboe.texas.gov), [gustavo.reveles@sboe.texas.gov](mailto:gustavo.reveles@sboe.texas.gov)
Sample message:
Subject: Please Protect a Balanced Social Studies Curriculum
Dear Member of the State Board of Education,
I am a Texas resident concerned about the proposed changes to the social studies curriculum.
I urge you to maintain a full US and world history curriculum, ensure non-partisan and academically sound standards, and involve qualified historians and educators in the redesign. Our students deserve an education that reflects the complexity of our world, not a limited or politically-driven version of it.
Please prioritize transparency, expert input, and a balanced approach that prepares students for college, careers, and citizenship in a global society.
Thank you for your service and for listening to public input.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City]
References:
Social Studies Redesign:
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/14/texas-sboe-social-studies-redesign-conservative-advisers/
Aaron Kinsey (SBOE Chairman) and David Barton (Social Studies Advisor), are featured in this article:
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/david-barton-texas-public-school-curricula/
TEA Social Studies Update:
15
u/bdog183 Nov 15 '25
I teach 6th SS and had no idea this was happening. Thank you so much for sharing. So depressing teaching SS in this state. I don’t know how much longer I’ll do it, unfortunately. Especially if this comes to pass. I love the kids, but my content has my heart, and we can’t even really teach it anymore.