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What is the curriculum development process?
The SBOE is using a 17 step process to revise and review the TEKS.
The State Board of Education (SBOE) sets the curriculum for Texas public schools, called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills or TEKS. The TEKS identify what Texas students should know and be able to do at every grade and in every course in the required curriculum.
The current curriculum (TEKS) can be found here:
Participate in the science TEKS review process
Texas revises its science standards known as the Science TEKS once every ten years.
- Review the new science TEKS on the SBOE website
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- Enter your address or Zip code here to find out who your board member is.
- Contact your SBOE representative prior to the SBOE meeting and let her or him know your opinion of the TEKS.
The SBOE, together with the head of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees the public education system of Texas in accordance with the Texas Education Code. The SBOE has legislative authority to adopt the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for each subject of the required curriculum. It also has authority over graduation requirements, textbook adoption and investment authority over the $20 Billion Permanent School Fund.
Since the SBOE has the authority to adopt the curricula (TEKS) for each subject being taught in Texas public schools, they have a direct influence on what Texas students are taught, as well as the content of the textbooks students use.
- Enter an address or Zip code here to find out who represents you.
Who are the Members of the SBOE?
The Board consists of 15 members elected to four year terms from 15 districts across the state. New and re-elected members take office in January of odd numbered years. Although State Board of Education members are normally elected to a four-year term of office, all seats will be up for election in November 2012 due to redistricting.
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The Chair of the SBOE is appointed from among the elected members of the SBOE by the Governor every two years. A Chairperson is limited to four years at a time. The Texas Senate has to approve the appointment, but the Governor can essentially bypass the Senate by waiting until they adjourn, since they meet every other year. Governor Perry appointed Barbara Cargill of District 8 as Chair for the 2011-2012, term, following the failure of his re-nomination of Gail Lowe to gain the approval of the Texas Senate. Gail Lowe was appointed by Governor Perry for the 2009-2010 term when his re-appointment of Don McLeroy failed to gain the approval of the Texas Senate.
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The members of the SBOE as of January, 2011, are:
- Lawrence A. Allen, Jr., District 4
- Mary Helen Berlanga, District 2
- David Bradley, District 7
- Barbara Cargill, District 8
- George M. Clayton, District 12
- Bob Craig, District 15
- Marsha Lane Farney, District 10
- Carlos "Charlie" Garza, District 1
- Patricia Hardy, District 11
- Mavis B. Knight, District 13
- Terri Leo, District 6
- Gail Lowe, District 14
- Ken Mercer, District 5
- Thomas Ratliff, District 9
- Michael Soto, District 3
Click on one of the above to see their public position on science education or click here for all.
Commissioner of Education
The Commissioner of Education is head of the TEA.
The current Commissioner of Education, Robert Scott, was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry on Oct. 16, 2007
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is responsible for
- Oversight of public primary and secondary education in the state of Texas.
- Supporting over 1,000 individual school districts in 20 regions in the state as well as charter schools.
- Assisting the SBOE in the development of the TEKS
- Implementing the TEKS
- Managing the development, administration, scoring, analysis, and reporting of the TAKS.
- Assisting in the aligning of curriculum with assessment
- Building capacity to support the statewide curriculum
- Providing information to school administrators, counselors, parents, and students on course offerings and issues related to TEKS.
- Students in grades 3 through 11 (exit level) take the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). These tests indicate how much the student has learned and help to indicate how well his or her district's instructional program is functioning.
- The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is responsible for managing the development, administration, scoring, analysis, and reporting of the TAKS.
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