Social Studies

Personal Financial Literacy and Economics is a one-half credit high school course developed in response to Senate Bill (SB) 1063 and Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.025(b-22). Students may successfully complete either this new course or the Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits course to satisfy the half-credit economics requirement for high school graduation. Both economics courses are part of the required secondary curriculum.

The requirement to offer both Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits and Personal Financial Literacy and Economics may be reduced to one by the commissioner of education upon application of a school district with a total high school enrollment of less than 500 students. Districts should complete the Request for Reduction in Required Curriculum Course Offerings form and return the form to the Curriculum Help Desk.

Frequently Asked Questions: Personal Financial Literacy and Economics Frequently Asked Questions (PDF Document)

Open Education Resources

• As authorized by Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.025(b-23), the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has developed a list of free, open-source, and publicly available curricula that maybe used by a school district to provide instruction in the Personal Financial Literacy and Economics high school course.
• Personal Financial Literacy and Economics Open Education Resources (PDF Document)

• In response to Senate Bill (SB) 30, also known as The Community Safety Education Act, the State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted a rule to include the instruction developed under TEC §28.012, in one or more courses in the required curriculum for students in grades 9-12. The SBOE adopted the new rule in Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §74.39, Requirements for Instruction on Proper Interaction with Peace Officers, effective August 27, 2018. This rule requires school districts and charter schools to provide instruction to students in grades 9-12 on proper interaction with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters.
   
• Senate Bill (SB) 30, Community Safety Education Act Frequently Asked Questions

• Each year, during the week that includes September 17, Texas schools honor Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC § 29.907) to highlight the values and ideals on which the United States was founded as well as the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the founding of the country. Students learn about the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.  Students also examine the relationship between the ideas in these documents and subsequent American history.
   
• Celebrate Freedom Week

• Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans who trace their heritage to Latin America or Spain. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. The following websites provide instructional materials, activities, and lessons that can be used to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies.


• Hispanic Heritage Month

• Each year, during February, we celebrate the history and cultural contributions of Black Americans in the United States. Students learn about the achievements, perspectives, struggles, and experiences of Black Americans throughout more than 400 years of American history. The following websites provide a variety of lessons, activities, and instructional materials that can be used to honor Black History Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: African American Studies and other social studies courses throughout the year. 
   
• Black History Month

• SB 1828 was passed in 2019 in acknowledgment of the Holocaust’s ongoing significance. SB 1828 instructs the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) to develop or approve materials for public schools for a statewide Holocaust Remembrance Week. Counseled by the Commission, the Governor’s Office selected the week of January 27th as the date for Remembrance Week. (International Holocaust Remembrance Day is January 27, which is the date that Auschwitz was “liberated” by Allied troops.)
   
• Holocaust Remembrance Week

The effects of the recent acts of war carried out against the State of Israel and its people by the terrorist organization Hamas are being felt all over the world and in Texas. As details of the attacks on Israel and violence in the region are shared daily by news outlets and on social media, it is important to help our students learn about the roots of the conflict and how to report incidents of hate speech and/or acts of violence. For optional resources to support lessons and conversations with students about the current conflict, please visit the TEA announcement for Educational Resources on Israeli Conflict for Texas Students. Parents and educators should determine which resources, if any, best fit the needs of their families and community.