Texas State Board of Education Chairman Aaron Kinsey has requested the removal of all references to César Chávez from the state’s Social Studies curriculum as part of the ongoing revision of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
In a March 19 letter to Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, Kinsey asked that Chávez be removed from the proposed curriculum standards currently under review by the board.
“Given the recent horrific facts that have become known since the work groups finished their work, I am requesting you remove references to Cesar Chavez from the proposed Social Studies TEKS to be presented to the SBOE for our deliberation and debate in April,” Kinsey wrote.
Kinsey also stated, “Texans would rightfully be concerned if they thought work groups continued to include content about Chavez after these revelations.”
“Additionally, I am confident that if there were time to reconvene work groups to consider this, they would eliminate these references in good conscience.”
The State Board of Education is currently revising the Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the statewide standards that determine what Texas public school students are required to learn at each grade level.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the board has released draft revisions to the Social Studies TEKS as part of the next phase of the state’s curriculum overhaul, with officials describing the process as reflecting the highest level of teacher and parent participation in a Social Studies TEKS review to date.
Because the standards guide how history, civics, economics, and government are taught across Texas classrooms, changes to the TEKS shape instructional materials, lesson plans, and statewide assessments.
The revised standards are expected to receive a first reading in the coming weeks, followed by a final vote on adoption at the board’s June meeting.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to stop observing César Chávez Day and said he would work with lawmakers to remove the holiday from state law, citing allegations of sexual misconduct against the late labor leader.
If adopted, the changes to the Social Studies TEKS would apply statewide and shape classroom instruction, instructional materials, and assessments across Texas public schools.