Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills define statewide learning standards used in Texas public schools. They guide curriculum and instruction across grade levels and subjects under the oversight of the Texas Education Agency, aligning with statutory mandates such as the Texas Education Code and interacting with policies from the Texas Legislature, the Governor of Texas, and statewide assessments like the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.

Overview

The standards specify what students should know and be able to do at each grade, influencing instruction in subjects including English Language Arts and Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and Languages Other Than English. Development and revision processes involve entities such as the State Board of Education (Texas), subject matter experts from institutions like the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas A&M University System, the Baylor University, and stakeholders including school districts like Houston Independent School District and Dallas Independent School District. The TEKS interact with assessment programs such as STAAR and curricula from publishers like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill Education, and Pearson Education.

History and Development

Origins of statewide standards trace to reforms in the 1980s and 1990s influenced by national movements around standards-based reform led by organizations such as the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Key legislative milestones include amendments enacted by the Texas Legislature and policy actions by the State Board of Education (Texas), with implementation timelines overlapping gubernatorial administrations including George W. Bush (then Governor of Texas), Rick Perry, and Greg Abbott (governor). Revision cycles have responded to events such as the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (notably No Child Left Behind Act) and shifts in assessments like the transition from TAKS to STAAR. Advisory input has come from experts with affiliations to the Princeton University, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Carnegie Foundation, and professional groups such as the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.

Structure and Content

The framework is organized by grade level and subject with specific strands and student expectations, reflecting disciplinary standards influenced by organizations like the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Science Teaching Association, and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Content documents reference canonical works and figures when appropriate, connecting to curricular touchstones such as The Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, William Shakespeare, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and events like the Texas Revolution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Industrial Revolution. Mathematics TEKS align topics including algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability with historical developments tied to figures such as Carl Friedrich Gauss and Euclid. Science TEKS cover life sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences with linkages to concepts by Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, and James Watson. Social Studies TEKS include state history, national history, and world history referencing periods like the Renaissance and treaties such as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Implementation and Assessment

Local education agencies such as Austin Independent School District, Fort Worth Independent School District, and charter operators including KIPP Texas implement curricula aligned with the standards, often utilizing professional development from institutions like the Texas Tech University and service providers such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded initiatives. Assessment systems include the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and accountability frameworks administered by the Texas Education Agency, with data tracked for compliance with federal statutes like provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Support entities include teacher preparation programs at Texas State University, University of Houston, and certification oversight by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

Impact and Criticism

Proponents cite increased clarity in expectations for students and teachers across districts such as San Antonio Independent School District and El Paso Independent School District, while critics—ranging from parents and advocacy groups like the Texas Freedom Network to scholars at Rice University and the Cato Institute—argue about content decisions, politicization by the State Board of Education (Texas), and alignment with national benchmarks like the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Debates have involved controversies over textbook adoption processes with publishers including McGraw-Hill Education and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, legal challenges in state courts such as the Texas Supreme Court, and analyses by think tanks including the Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation. Ongoing revisions continue amid discussions about equity, outcomes documented by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and workforce projections from agencies like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Category:Education in Texas