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Friends,
Tomorrow begins an important week at the Texas State Board of Education that meets from the 22nd-26th.
There will be two press conferences tomorrow morning.
The first on is the following at 10 AM sponsored by the Latino Texas Policy Center. The second at 12PM is sponsored by the Texas Freedom Network. TFN will have a horse-drawn funeral procession for the death of religious freedom in Texas.
I somehow don't have a notice on the second one, but I spoke yesterday with Executive Director Felicia Martin who said that there will be one at the noon hour.
Both press conferences take place at the Barbara Jordan State Office Building | 1601 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78711. If you're in mourning regarding the loss of religious freedom, wear black.
All should care deeply about this as what gets decided this week will be etched in stone for the next 10 years. Read the LTPC's full policy analysis HERE.
LATINO TEXAS POLICY CENTER
MEDIA KIT Texas State Board of Education Social Studies TEKS Vote June 26, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Natalie A. Sanchez-Lopez, M.P.P. Executive Director & CEO Latino Texas Policy Center Phone: 361-510-1365 Email: natalie@latinotexaspolicycenter.com Website: www.latinotexaspolicycenter.com
MEDIA ADVISORY
What: Press Conference on the Hidden Financial Costs of the Proposed Texas Social Studies TEKS Revisions
When: Monday, June 22, 2026 @ 10AM
Where: Barbara Jordan State Office Building | 1601 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78711
Who Will Speak:
• Natalie Sánchez-Lopez, Executive Director & CEO, Latino Texas Policy Center • Gustavo Reveles, Texas State Board of Education, District 1 • Marisa Perez-Diaz, Texas State Board of Education, District 3 • Zeph Capo, President, Texas AFT • Julia Brookins, American Historical Association
Why: The State Board of Education is scheduled to take a final vote on June 26, 2026 regarding proposed K–12 Social Studies TEKS revisions. A new independent policy analysis commissioned by the Latino Texas Policy Center estimates implementation costs ranging from $811 million to more than $1.65 billion statewide.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Headline: New Analysis Finds Proposed Texas Social Studies Standards Could Cost Between $811 Million and $1.65 Billion
Key News Peg:
The Texas Education Agency's fiscal note states the proposed TEKS revisions will result in "no additional costs to the state." A new independent analysis finds substantial implementation costs would instead be borne by local school districts, taxpayers, educators, museums, and cultural institutions.
Why This Matters:
The proposed standards represent the most significant restructuring of Texas social studies curriculum in more than a decade.
Major proposed changes include:
• Moving Texas History from 4th grade to 8th grade • Replacing portions of existing World Cultures content • Introducing a new chronological K–8 history sequence • Integrating Biblical content throughout elementary grades • Requiring new instructional materials statewide
POLICY ANALYSIS - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is undertaking a sweeping overhaul of social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for all grades K–12. What will be the costs from the proposed changes? Latinos and allies rightly identify the cost as barriers to academic success and future adult opportunities – resulting from reductions in historical integrity and inclusivity (their contributions), and overall education quality.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA), which claims no additional financial costs to the state, does not account for the full cascade of downstream implementation costs. Millions of unfunded education costs that will affect school districts, teacher preparation and historic sites and cultural institutions.
Read full policy analysis HERE
KEY FINDINGS
Estimated Statewide Costs
Instructional Materials: $314M–$479M
District Curriculum Development: $135M–$430M
Teacher Retraining: $73M–$154M
Projected Social Studies $85M–$215M
Bluebonnet Development:
STAAR Assessment Redesign: $14M–$36M
Historic Sites and Museums: $14M–$44M
Teacher Attrition and Replacement: $38M–$77M
Potential Litigation: $5M–$50M+
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $811 Million–$1.65 Billion+
TOP FIVE REPORTER ANGLES
1. The Hidden Cost Story: TEA says implementation costs are effectively zero. Independent researchers estimate costs exceeding $1 billion.
2. Texas History Leaves Elementary School:Texas History moves from 4th grade through 8th grade, potentially affecting student learning and cultural identity formation.
3. Impact on Museums and Historic Sites: Organizations such as The Alamo and LBJ Library anticipate reduced visitation and costly program redesigns.
4. Teacher Readiness: Approximately 77,000 social studies teachers would be expected to implement a framework for which no existing preparation pipeline currently exists.
5. Church-State Questions: The integration of Biblical content raises constitutional questions that legal scholars warn could generate future litigation
FAST FACTS
★ 77,000 Texas social studies teachers affected
★ More than 6.3 million students impacted
★ 1,020 Texas school districts affected
★ More than $103 million already spent on Bluebonnet Learning development
★ More than 595 districts have adopted portions of Bluebonnet Learning
★ Final SBOE adoption vote scheduled for June 26, 2026
SUGGESTED INTERVIEW SOURCES
Economic Impact on Texas & Latino Community Perspective
Natalie Sanchez-Lopez Executive Director & CEO of the Latino Texas Policy Center
Email: natalie@latinotexaspolicycenter.com | Ph. (361) 510-1365
Policy and Fiscal Analysis:
Christopher Carmona, PhD, Author of:The Hidden Financial Education Cost: Proposed Texas Social Studies TEKS Revisions
Email: natalie@latinotexaspolicycenter.com | Ph. (956) 854-1717
State Board of Education Perspectives
Gustavo Reveles, Texas SBOE District 1
Email: gustavo.reveles@sboe.texas.gov | Ph. (915) 256-3273
Marisa Perez-Diaz, Texas SBOE District 3
Email: marisa.perez@sboe.texas.gov | Ph. (512) 422-9019
Teacher and Classroom Impact
Zeph Capo, President, Texas American Federation of Teachers (Texas AFT)
Email: zcapo@texasaft.org | Ph. (713) 670-4348
Historical and Academic Analysis & Parent Perspective
Julia Brookins, American Historical Association
Email: jbrookins@historians.org | Ph. (773) 272-5209
QUOTABLES
"Before Texas commits to an untested curriculum restructuring, taxpayers deserve a complete and independent fiscal analysis." ~ Natalie Sanchez-Lopez
"The state is telling Texans this overhaul is free. It is not. It simply moves the bill onto school districts, teachers, museums, and taxpayers." ~ Christopher Carmona, PhD
KEY DATES
June 22, 2026 SBOE Committee Hearing - Public Testimony
June 22, 2026 @ 10:00 a.m.
LTPC Press Conference @ Barbara Jordan Building
June 26, 2026 State Board of Education - Final Adoption Vote
ABOUT THE LATINO TEXAS POLICY CENTER
The Latino Texas Policy Center is an independent, nonpartisan statewide policy organization dedicated to increasing Latino policymaking power through research, leadership development, coalition-building, and evidence-based policy solutions. LTPC focuses on education, economic mobility, civic participation, and long-term community wellbeing.
www.latinotexaspolicycenter.com
Read full policy analysis HERE
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