NPR for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mexican-American Studies Won’t Be Statewide Elective, But State Board OKs A Compromise

The State Board of Education on Wednesday didn’t approve a statewide Mexican-American studies elective. Instead, it adopted a measure that asks publishers to submit textbooks on Mexican-American and other ethnic studies to a list of instructional materials for social studies classes by the 2016-17 school year.

School districts will now have the option to develop their own classes on Mexican-American, African-American, Native American and Asian-American studies. State education officials say that option has always existed. The Fort Worth district, for example, already offers a Mexican-American studies class. Nevertheless, several districts around the state, including Houston, recently passed resolutions in support of a statewide Mexican-American studies class.

SBOE Opts for Compromise on Mexican-American Studies via Texas Tribune

Stella M. Chávez is an investigative reporter for The Texas Newsroom, a collaboration between NPR and member stations around the state. She's based at KERA in Dallas and is currently reporting on how state government is working with federal agencies on immigration enforcement and border security.