The Texas State Board of Education has approved revised Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, on first reading, advancing new standards that include biblical references and setting up a final vote in June.
Board members approved the required reading list, which includes biblical references, in a 9-5 vote. The Social Studies TEKS for middle school passed 10-2, while high school courses including World History, World Geography, and Economics were approved 9-5.
With the initial approval complete, the board is expected to hold a final vote in June.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Texas Republicans gathered at Tuesday’s meeting to support the proposed standards while opposing the inclusion of Islam-focused content.
SBOE member Brandon Hall praised the vote, calling it a major step forward.
“It is a great day in the State of Texas. The SBOE is on track to approve a literary works list that would bring key Bible passages back into classrooms for the first time in decades alongside rich works of classic literature,” Hall told The Dallas Express.
“Simultaneously, we gave initial approval to Social Studies standards that would erase years of woke historical revisionism, teaching factual history with a focus on the greatness of America and Texas,” Hall added.
Conservative advocacy group Texas Values also celebrated the outcome.
“Victory! The required reading list with Biblical references passed by vote 9-5 at Texas State Board of Education!” the group wrote on Facebook.
In a separate post, Texas Values added, “Victory! Social Studies TEKS for Middle School Passed 10-2 at Texas State Board of Education!”
SBOE member Staci Childs also voiced frustration after the vote.
“This week on the sboe was so hard. every single standard dealing with African Americans we tried to introduce was questioned or objected to; yet this one question was not answered. we must do better for our students,” Childs wrote on Facebook.