Texas State Board of Education Completes K-12 Social Studies TEKS Revision, Adopts New Personal Financial Literacy Standards AUSTIN, Texas — September 8, 2026 — On Friday, The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) completed its revision of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for social studies. Chairman Aaron Kinsey thanked the board for its work, which took more than a year to complete. Last week's adoption of the U.S. History, World History, World Geography, and Government standards completes the board's work on K-12 social studies. "These updated social studies TEKS represent Texas' commitment to rigorous learning, with a central emphasis on the foundations of Western Civilization and the values that shaped America's and Texas' founding. Texas students will graduate with a solid understanding of our history, our republican form of government, and our exceptional place in the world," said Chairman Kinsey. In addition to the social studies TEKS, the SBOE adopted new Personal Financial Literacy (PFL) standards. The new TEKS will teach students how to set goals, budget, save, invest, develop business plans, and more. "One of the vital aspects of our PFL standards is that students understand the financial impact on their economic future under capitalism compared to socialism and communism. There is no better way to teach a lesson than to make it personal, and financial outcomes vary greatly under these different economic models," said Chairman Kinsey. These updated social studies TEKS bring Texas standards in line with state law, which, over the last several legislative sessions, has introduced new mandates to refocus education on Western Civilization and its values. @TXSBOE #txsboe #txlege #txed

Texas State Board of Education Adopts New Social Studies Standards and Required Literature Reading List Landmark curriculum overhaul to deliver chronological history education and increased literacy rigor across Texas public schools AUSTIN, Texas — June 26, 2026 — The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) today voted to adopt new social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and a required literature reading list, marking a transformative shift in how Texas students will learn history and literature. A Chronological Approach to History The newly adopted social studies TEKS are structured around a chronological framework, giving students the foundational knowledge and context needed to think critically about the past. By following history in sequence, students can observe how one event led to another — building a deeper, more coherent understanding of the forces that shaped the modern world. Students will understand the arc of America becoming a more perfect union. SBOE Chairman Aaron Kinsey praised the new standards: "Students will finally get the full story. This is how historians work. Students can trace the development of liberty, self-government, free enterprise, and constitutional principles across generations. Students will see how people, ideas, events, and institutions influenced one another across time rather than studying them as separate topics." The new TEKS emphasize understanding why people, events, and ideas mattered and how they shaped the world — moving away from an approach that overwhelmed students with disconnected lists of names, dates, and events, resulting in generations of students who do not know the greatness of America or its greatest state, Texas. Texas History Capstone in 8th Grade A centerpiece of the new standards is a Texas history capstone course in 8th grade. The course tells the story of Texas from its founding through the present day, with a particular focus on how Enlightenment principles shaped the Texas Constitution and the state's founding ideals. Required Literature Reading List In response to a mandate from the Texas State Legislature to increase literacy rigor statewide, the SBOE also adopted a required literature reading list. The Board took a classical approach — selecting enduring works that have stood the test of time — ensuring students engage with important literary texts that cross-reference the historical events they are studying in social studies. A Unified Curriculum Vision Together, the new social studies TEKS and required literature reading list represent a unified curriculum designed to raise reading standards and give students a comprehensive understanding of the arc of history — from the rise of Western Civilization to the founding of the United States and the ongoing American experiment in self-government. #TXSBOE #TXLEGE #TXED @TXSBOE