Science TEKS Review Work Group Drafts

Science TEKS Review feedback will be accepted in response to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) work group drafts throughout the review and revision process. Comments on drafts will help to inform future work groups' recommendations.

When providing specific comments and recommendations for a work group, please identify the work group in the subject line of the email. For example, in the subject line, please indicate "Science TEKS Review Work Group C Feedback." Please submit comments to TEA at teks@tea.texas.gov. 

Work Group F: Final Recommendations, Kindergarten-Grade 8

Work Group F was convened in July 2021 to finalize recommendations for revisions to the science TEKS for kindergarten-grade 8. Work Group F was charged with ensuring that the final recommendations are vertically aligned and to review additional feedback. The work group also drafted a new strand on recurring themes and concepts based on a recommendation from Work Groups C and E.

The final recommendations for revisions to the K-8 science TEKS are presented in a vertical alignment chart. The chart presents the proposed recommendations for each grade with the work group’s rationales for the changes and reflects the alignment of the proposed recommendations across grade levels. 

Science TEKS Review Final Recommendations, K-8 (PDF, 1229KB)

Revised Draft Recommendations: Kindergarten-Grade 8

Work Groups C and E reconvened for a series of virtual meetings in May and June 2021 to revise draft recommendations for kindergarten-grade 8. The work groups addressed feedback and completed revisions to their drafts. The revised draft recommendations are presented in a side-by-side format. The document is not intended to reflect vertical alignment.

Science TEKS Review Revised Draft Recommendations (PDF, 1,259KB)

Work Group E: Elementary

Work Group E met for a series of virtual meetings between January and March 2021 to make recommendations to revise the TEKS for kindergarten through grade 5. TEA is currently collecting feedback on Work Group E Draft Recommendations.

Work Group E draft recommendations are presented in two formats. The TEKS draft recommendations present the proposed recommendations for each grade with the work group’s rationales. The draft recommendations also list the current TEKS for each grade level and identify whether the content was moved, renumbered, or deleted.

Work Group E Science TEKS Review Draft Recommendations, Kindergarten-Grade 5 (PDF, 2499KB)

The side-by-side document presents the recommendations for kindergarten-grade 5 in a table to demonstrate progression of scientific concepts across grade levels and allows readers to trace the development of scientific concepts in each strand.

Science Draft Recommendations Side-by-Side, Kindergarten-Grade 5 (PDF, 1899KB)

Work Group D: Other High School Courses

Work Group D was charged to make recommendations to revise the TEKS for the following high school courses: Aquatic Science, Astronomy, Earth and Space Science, and Environmental Systems. Additionally, the work group has proposed a new high school independent study course, Specialized Topics in Science. TEA is currently collecting feedback on Work Group D draft recommendations. 

Final Recommendations

The Work Group D final recommendations are presented below. After the January 2021 SBOE meeting, Work Group D reconvened to complete its recommendations for the Earth Systems Science course and to address feedback from the SBOE and SBOE-appointed content advisors. This document reflects Work Group D's final recommendations.

Work Group D Final Recommendations (PDF, 284KB)

Draft Recommendations

The Work Group D draft recommendations are presented below. Work Group D completed its recommendations for each of the courses with the exception of the Earth and Space Science course (Earth Systems Science). Preliminary recommendations for the course are provided as a separate, working document. The work group will reconvene to finalize its recommendations for the proposed Earth Systems course at a future meeting.

Work Group D Draft Recommendations (PDF, 1439KB)

Preliminary Recommendations for Earth Systems Science -- Working Document (PDF, 1190KB)

Work Group C: Grades 6 - 8

Work Group C met for a series of virtual meetings between August and November 2020 to make recommendations to revise the TEKS for middle school, grades 6-8. TEA is currently collecting feedback on Work Group C Draft Recommendations. 

The Work Group C recommendations for science are presented in two formats. The TEKS draft recommendations present the proposed recommendations for each grade with the work group’s rationales. The draft recommendations also list the current TEKS for each grade level and identify whether the content was moved, renumbered, or deleted.

The current version of the draft recommendations differs from a previous version to reflect Work Group C's proposed changes to the introduction approved for high school courses adopted by the SBOE in November 2020. 

Work Group C Science TEKS Review Draft Recommendations, Grades 6-8  Updated 4/6/2021 (PDF, 739KB)

The Side-by-Side document presents the recommendations for all three grades in a table to demonstrate progression of scientific concepts across grade levels and allows readers to trace the development of scientific concepts in each strand.

Science Draft Recommendations Side-by-Side, Grades 6-8 (PDF, 102KB)

Work Group B: Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Physics and Chemistry, and Physics

Work Group B met in June 2020 to make recommendations for the science TEKS for the following four high school courses: Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Physics and Chemistry, and Physics. The SBOE discussed a draft of the recommendations at the June/July SBOE meeting. Work Group B reconvened in July 2020 to address SBOE feedback and finalize recommendations. Work Group B’s final recommendations are provided below. Click on the item to download the PDF.

Work Group B Final Recommendations (PDF, 1325KB)

Work Group: Scientific and Engineering Practices

The Scientific and Engineering Practices Work Group reconvened in July 2020 to address SBOE guidance and finalize recommendations. The work group's final recommendations are provided below. The document indicates changes from the June 2020 draft.

Scientific and Engineering Practices Work Group Final Recommendations--July 2020 (PDF, 298KB)

Based on recommendations from the content advisors and Work Group A, TEA convened a work group in June 2020 to develop recommendations regarding scientific and engineering practices and the process skills in the current science TEKS. The work group's recommendations are provided below. Click on the item to download the PDF.

Scientific and Engineering Practices Work Group Recommendations--June 2020 (PDF, 969KB)

Work Group A: Planning for Review

Work Group A met in February 2020 to identify key areas and recurring topics from feedback collected related to the TEKS review process, including SBOE guidance to work groups, content advisor consensus recommendations, and the results of the Science TEKS Review Survey (December 2019–January 2020). The work group was charged with developing recommendations for how subsequent science TEKS review work groups could address the feedback received. Work Group A's recommendations are provided below. Click on the item to download the PDF.

Work Group A Recommendations (PDF, 224 KB)