Social Studies
This social studies web page provides clarification, guidance, and support to social studies stakeholders, including districts, schools, parents, educators, and students, for the development and implementation of the K–12 social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
Announcements
- TEA Releases Results for 2023 STAAR 3-8 Assessments: The Texas Education Agency has released spring 2023 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) results for students in Grades 3-8. The results include assessments in reading-language arts (RLA) in grades 3-8 and 8th grade social studies. For more information, please see the TEA announcement.
- Upcoming Social Studies Stakeholder Engagement Sessions: As part of its commitment to expanding opportunities for information sharing and interaction with educators and parents, the social studies team is conducting an ongoing series of stakeholder engagement sessions. Sessions will be conducted on two separate days and times to increase the opportunity stakeholders have to attend. The information shared will be the same in each meeting. All social studies stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators, etc.) are invited to attend the next session by registering below.
October Topic: State-Approved Social Studies Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses
Dates & Times
Monday, October 9th @ 4:30 p.m. Registration Link
Tuesday, October 10th @ 11:30 a.m. Registration Link
Current Social Studies TEKS
The links below provide access to the web-based version of the current social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do. You can also access a PDF version of the TEKS.
- Elementary Social Studies TEKS
- Middle School Social Studies TEKS
- K-6 Social Studies TEKS in Spanish
- High School Social Studies TEKS
- Other Social Studies Courses TEKS (high school)
Social Studies TEKS To Be Implemented in 2024-25
The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted revisions to the social studies TEKS that align with legislative requirements passed in the 87th Legislature. The revisions update the standards for kindergarten–8th grade and five high-school courses. For more information related to the Social Studies TEKS revision and implementation, please visit the 2021-2022 Social Studies TEKS Review website. The revised social studies TEKS will be implemented beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and can be accessed via the link below.
Effective August 1, 2024: Adopted Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113. Social Studies, Subchapters A-C
Personal Financial Literacy and Economics
Personal Financial Literacy and Economics is a new 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 curriculum@tea.texas.gov.
- 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 may be 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)
- Stakeholder Engagement June 2023 Session: Stakeholder Engagement Presentation: Personal Financial Literacy & Economics
Stakeholder Engagement
The social studies team at TEA is committed to enhancing opportunities for stakeholder engagement across the state of Texas. Social Studies Stakeholder Engagement Sessions allow the TEA social studies team to expand information sharing and interaction with stakeholders. Each session will have a different informational focus and will include a fifteen-to-twenty-minute presentation from TEA staff, followed by an opportunity for general questions and discussion related to social studies. Stakeholder engagement sessions will be provided on two different days at two different times (during and outside of the school day) to provide stakeholders multiple opportunities to attend. The information shared will be the same in each meeting. All social studies stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators, etc.) are invited to attend by registering below.
October Topic: State-Approved Social Studies Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses
Target Audience: High School Teachers, District Administrators, Campus Administrators, Counselors, Education Service Center Specialists, Parents, and Professional Organizations
Dates & Times
- Monday, October 9th @ 4:30 p.m. Registration Link
- Tuesday, October 10th @ 11:30 a.m. Registration Link
Recent Social Studies Communications
The following recent newsletters and engagement session presentations have been shared by the TEA social studies team with stakeholders.
Additional Social Studies Resources
- 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 African Americans in the United States. Students learn about the achievements, perspectives, struggles, and experiences of African 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 African American History Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: African American Studies and other social studies courses throughout the year.
- African American 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
Other TEA Web Pages Related to Social Studies
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
(512) 463-9581
For questions or additional information, please submit a Curriculum Request Form through the TEA Help Desk.
Please subscribe for newsletter updates from the social studies team.
Social Studies and Reading Language Arts Team
Jim Doris
Social Studies/Reading Language Arts Director
Jenny Gaona
Social Studies Content Specialist
Tim Bryant
K-8 Reading Language Arts and Social Studies Content Specialist
Guiomar Andújar
Spanish Content Specialist
Tamara Robert
Reading Language Arts Content Specialist