Jan. 28-31 SBOE Meeting Highlights
Part 1

SBOE Info: texednews.com/sboe
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Also in this issue:
-- Commissioner's Comments
-- Charter Update
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Final Adoption Set for April
African American Course Clears Hurdle
SBOE members unanimously approved on first (of two) reading the curriculum (
TEKS) for a one-credit state-level African American Studies course under the Social Studies curriculum for ethnic studies.

The course would be modeled after an innovative course approved for Dallas ISD.

The formal comment period on the first-reading version of the course starts March 6 and ends April 10, with public testimony heard during the board’s April 14-17 meetings leading up to the final vote on April. 17. When available, the first-reading version approved for public comment will be posted here.

The adoption process thus far has been noncontroversial, unlike what happened when the board approved Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies in 2018.

If approved in April (as expected) Texas will be the fifth state in the nation — behind North Carolina, Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee — to have a state-approved elective course in African American studies, and would be the only state to have both a Mexican American and an African American social studies course on their state-adopted curriculums.

Resources:
-- Press release
-- Agenda (numerous changes were made on First Reading)

Webcasts:

-- Public hearing (starts at the 38:00 mark)
-- Committee of the Whole (starts at the 54:00 mark)
-- General Meeting (discussion/vote starts at the beginning)