SBOE approves mandatory reading lists and one new charter: recap

Last week, we reported on the adoption of a controversial set of social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) by the State Board of Education (SBOE). This saga is not yet over as high school courses will be resumed at the next regular meeting in September. We will provide updates on any additional opportunities to weigh in on these standards. In the meantime, the Texas Tribune reports on the final outcome, and one advocate provides a thorough analysis of how public comments failed to impact the final product. This week, we provide a summary of three other items of note. 

Mandatory reading lists 

The board took testimony on the proposed K-12 reading lists on Monday. Much of what was said both for and against the lists was similar to what the SBOE heard in April: the lists are too long, would take too much class time and rob teachers and students the opportunity to select additional texts, and centered white authors. Advocates spoke to the need to bring the Bible back to Texas classrooms. 

There was a small victory in having the lists shortened considerably at the April meeting so what was presented for public comment was reduced from the original version presented by the TEA in January. However, many testifiers still commented on the lists’ sheer volume. Many came with highly targeted arguments on the versions of the Biblical works or grade placement of certain novels at the high school level. The Texas Council of Teachers for English Language Arts (TCTELA) presented research conducted by their organization that the list of works presented actually failed to cover the English language arts TEKS in some grade levels. This seemed to move some members to entertain a few targeted fixes, but the majority of the list remained as it was in April.  

These lists were adopted 9-4 along party lines with a staggered implementation beginning the 2030-2031 school year (which is also the year these titles may appear on the statewide tests). Many teachers will need adequate time to prepare for the addition of new works they are unused to teaching, and others will say goodbye to texts they have taught to generations of students. 

It is worth reminding Hotline readers that school and classroom libraries have been decimated by the demands of Senate Bill (SB) 13, mostly because teachers and librarians lack the time and/or campus support to meet the requirements of the law. This law and this list are censorship of a new kind—overburden the field with administrative requirements, and participants are forced to do nothing but the requirements. It’s a clever, if diabolical, way to curtail free speech and police content without the messy lawsuits. 

Commissioner comments: STAAR results 

Commissioner Mike Morath appeared before the board for 45 minutes and presented on this year’s STAAR performance data for grade 3-8 and end of course (EOC). Overall, scores are trending upward but not at the rate that the agency is hoping to see. He noted that Grade 4 mathematics is the only grade and subject area in which Texas students have reached pre-COVID achievement.  

He also highlighted that due to SB 2124 (88R) requiring enrollment in advanced mathematics based on STAAR scores, more 7^th graders are taking both the grade 8 math and Algebra I STAAR tests and performing well. This is particularly encouraging as the percentage of economically disadvantaged students placed in these courses as a result of the law is outpacing non-disadvantaged students. Setting these advanced students aside, the remainder of middle school scores demonstrate that more support is needed in this content area.  

He also took the time to remind the board and the public of how parents can access their students' test results via Texas Assessment. For all the ire directed at the state assessment, it is hard to fault the level of transparency and insight into the results. Students and parents deserve to know where a student may need remediation on certain knowledge and skills in those tested subjects. However, transparency by itself is insufficient to rebuild trust in what many believe to be a flawed, even broken, testing and accountability system. For some, this may just be a picture window overlooking a trash heap. 

The commissioner did not have time to finish his presentation to the board and did not remain for questions. He also did not appear at the last interim hearing for House Public Education. One might infer that he did not want to answer questions from elected members of state government. This unelected leader wields enormous power over the lives of Texas school children and the districts that serve them. Is it too much to ask that he give sufficient time to elected officials who also have a duty of care for our schools? 

Charter approval 

We have previously written about the charter school, Texas High School for Accelerated Learning (THSAL), that was recommended by the Commissioner of Education to the SBOE for approval. This lone applicant was presented on Wednesday.  

On one hand, public school advocates can claim a victory that only one charter made it through the “rigorous” process; the inference being that whatever makes it through must be a high-quality charter. The application claims that TSHAL will help to locate and provide credit recovery and graduation for students who have or are at risk of dropping out. Analysis of the applicant revealed a failure to disclose its private equity ties, misrepresentation of the waitlist for students at existing district alternative campuses, and lower graduation rates and accountability scores than existing area campuses. However, in addition to these concerns, one of the primary factors has been that a charter must be offering something innovative that the local school districts, in this case Aldine ISD and Spring ISD, do not.  

The board heard testimony of the great work Aldine is already doing for dropout recovery, going as far as to provide wraparound services like childcare for its local program. THSAL would provide duplicative efforts in those communities and do so by shipping 14% of all state funding to their charter management organization (CMO), Second Mile Education, in Florida. A few folks were flown in from Florida to advocate for this for-profit network of schools.  

The campus was given preliminary approval on Wednesday and final approval on Friday with a 9-5 vote. The charter will enter into a planning year and is set to open in 2027-2028. And as a reminder, the commissioner has full authority to approve expansions of established charters throughout the state. 

The board will meet again in Austin in September at which time they should conclude their work on social studies TEKS. Texas AFT will provide a preview and recap of these proceedings in a future edition of the Hotline.