Before finalizing changes to Texas’ social studies standards next summer, the Republican-dominated State Board of Education will consider input from a conservative Christian activist who views church-state separation as a myth and the Ten Commandments as foundational to American education.Announced by Republican members Brandon Hall and Julie Pickren last week, David Barton will serve as one of several expert content advisers to the board as it develops a new social studies agenda that will dedicate more time across school grades to Texas and U.S. history while placing less attention on world history and cultures.  Board members can nominate content advisers to review and provide feedback during the revision process. Barton served in a similar role when the board revised its social studies standards in 2010.   His appointment comes ahead of what are expected to be intense debates about Texas’ social studies framework, specifically how and what students should learn about history. Those discussions will take place as Texas’ Republican leaders increasingly push to inject Christian beliefs and values into public school classrooms. view article

Members on the State Board of Education approved changes to how Texas history will be taught in K-8 social studies.  Two different instructional framework options were presented during Friday’s meeting that would rearrange the way history will be taught starting in third grade. Option G, approved by the board, will use a comprehensive 3-5-1 instruction method, which teaches Texas and U.S. history chronologically and connects it back to previously-taught content.  Under the new framework, kindergarten through second grade students will simply learn the foundational stories that are important to both American and Texas history. view article

The State Board of Education on Friday approved a social studies teaching plan that will dedicate more time across school grades to Texas and U.S. history while placing less attention on world history and cultures.  The Republican-dominated board voted 8-7 in favor of the proposal, which marks only one step in a longer effort by the group to revise Texas’ social studies standards and set new guidelines for what students should learn before they graduate. Republicans Evelyn Brooks and Pam Little joined Democrats in opposition to the plan.  The final tally was a reversal from a preliminary vote on Wednesday, when a board majority signaled support for a different teaching plan that included what educators considered a more inclusive approach. view article

The Republican-led State Board of Education rejected a proposal favored by conservative activists to overhaul the state’s social studies curriculum by  requiring a heavier concentration of Texas history taught across six grades, instead of the current two.  Instead, after a marathon meeting Wednesday, the board settled on an approach that will more closely integrate state, national and global history, and also focus more lessons on the founding of Western civilization and democracy. Under the plan, Texas history will be the focus of grades three and eight; U.S. history will be the focus of grades four and seven; and grades five and six will center on world history.   Supporters said it would create an “identity” of Texan and American heritage for children at earlier ages.  view article

When high school senior Gage Fagan testified at a Fort Bend ISD board meeting against a controversial school ranking rule that was subsequently eliminated due to student opposition, he realized the importance of student voices in education policy. Now, he's helped form a new student advisory group at the State Board of Education that will give the agency policy recommendations. Since June, the Ridge Point High School senior has been working with the Texas Education Agency to create a 15-student committee with one member from each congressional district to provide the agency with feedback at least once every semester.  Focusing on student issues  "(Students across the state) tend to think that these politicians and lawmakers on the State Board of Education tend to focus on these big ticket, controversial issues ... and not necessarily focus on issues that students really care about," Fagan said. "I decided to start this organization to focus on that and really get students to band together ... because it makes sense for the client to have a seat at the table." view article

Texas may change how your child understands biology when taught in a public high school classroom. The Texas' Board of Education tentatively approved changes to portions of the states Biology curriculum. Instead of asking Texas public school students to “evaluate” scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and the complexity of certain cells, the state will now ask that the students "examine" the scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and complexity of certain cells. In the past, some educators have argued that the word "evaluate" encouraged students to challenge the scientific theory of evolution and opened the door to teaching creationism. view article

The Georgetown Board of Trustees has hired Fred Brent as the district's newest superintendent. view article