September 8, 2022

IDRA's Knowledge is Power is a national resource for educators and advocates to help you do your work for equity and excellence in education in the midst of classroom censorship policies.


In this edition…

  • Texas State Board of Education Votes to Keep Outdated Social Studies Standards and Delay New Ethnic Studies 
  • Get Free Classroom Lessons on IDRA's We All Belong ~ School Resource Hub
  • Webinar: The Censored Classroom: Why Book Bans and Restrictive Policies Hurt Us All
  • Webinar Recording: Tools for Teaching in a Climate of Classroom Censorship
  • Survey on the Effects of Classroom Censorship
  • Advocacy Tools


See previous editions of Knowledge is Power and related resources online.

Texas State Board of Education Votes to Keep Outdated Social Studies Standards and Delay New Ethnic Studies 

by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D.


In early September, the Texas State Board of Education met to discuss changes to the social studies learning standards, also known as the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). Part of the board’s agenda included considering changes made to civics education standards through Senate Bill 3, the state’s classroom censorship law that went into effect December 2021.


The board also was supposed to vote on broader revisions to all of K-12 social studies, including a revised framework to streamline how social studies is taught in grades K-8, updates to social studies content from the past decade, and standards for new ethnic studies courses: American Indian/Native Studies (AINS) and Asian American Studies. These revisions would have updated social studies for all K-12 students and expanded ethnic studies in Texas. 


But the board departed from their agenda. Despite testimony from students, parents, and other curriculum and subject matter experts advocating inclusive learning standards, a majority of board members bent to partisan pressure to keep outdated social studies standards for another three years and delay consideration of the newly proposed ethnic studies standards.


Partisan groups advocated delaying the review to remove references to LGBTQ+ people, history and events; impose specific religious references; and interrupt the progress toward inclusive curricula from expanded ethnic studies courses. Because of the delay, the board’s social studies review will be more susceptible to partisan influence to make curricula less inclusive and of lower quality.


The board’s only change to social studies will be to review the civics education changes in SB 3, which must be adopted by December 31, 2022.


The board’s vote reflects the chilling effect of classroom censorship that accompanies SB 3, and leaves Texas students with outdated and inadequate learning standards.


We invite you to join the Teach the Truth Coalition to stay up-to-date on the next steps from the Texas board of education. 

Get Free Classroom Lessons on IDRA's We All Belong ~ School Resource Hub

We’re proud to release the following new original lessons created for you to access through our School Resource Hub.

The Real World: Understanding the Difference Education Makes 

Grades 7-8: Math


#WeGotMadison 

Grades 9-10: Debate, English Language Arts, Social Studies, U.S. Government, U.S. History


Leading the Fight with Lead 

Grades 6, 7, 8: Science


Say Her Name: Vice President Kamala Harris 

Grade 1: English Language Arts, Social Studies


Say Her Name: Michelle Obama 

Grade 2: English Language Arts


Say Her Name: Malala Yousafzai

Grade 2: English Language Arts


Say Her Name: Justice Sonia Sotomayor 

Grade 3: English Language Arts, Social Studies

Visit School Resource Hub

The Censored Classroom: Why Book Bans and Restrictive Policies Hurt Us All – Webinar

Monday, September 19 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CT


Join the Center for Educators & Schools in a conversation about how classroom censorship policies weaken the quality of education.

Book bans and classroom censorship policies are sweeping the nation. Join the Center for Educators & Schools in a conversation about how classroom censorship policies weaken the quality of education and negatively affect educators, students, and society at large.


Chloe Latham Sikes, IDRA Deputy Director of Policy, will discuss what the current censorship landscape looks like today, where teachers can find resources to learn more, and what this means for the future of the teaching profession.


This event is open to all educators across the country and is part of the New York Public Library’s Banned Books Week.


This is a virtual event taking place Monday, September 19 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CT


Interested in finding out more about the Center for Educators and Schools? Visit them at nypl.org/ces or subscribe to their monthly newsletter here! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to educators@nypl.org.

Register Now!

Webinar Recording: Tools for Teaching in a Climate of Classroom Censorship

Educators across the country are committed to making sure students receive a strong, truthful education in our public schools. But vague classroom censorship policies, and their residual chilling effects in multiple states, aim to shut down free expression in schools. As a result, students stand to be completely unprepared to engage in thoughtful discussions of real-world issues and solutions.


IDRA recently launched the We All Belong – School Resource Hub designed for educators, families and policy advocates who want to make sure students receive a strong, truthful education in our public schools.


In this webinar, you will…


  • See a demo of IDRA’s new School Resource Hub for educators. The website has original and curated lesson plans and tools for teaching history and current events about race and gender in today’s classroom censorship climate.


  • Get an overview of America is Me (AIM) framework with five intercultural skills to promote students’ understanding of equity issues. AIM serves as a foundation for original lessons in the hub by Dr. Kelly Ferguson and Dr. Marlon James.


  • Hear students discuss why inclusive education is important to them.
Watch Webinar Recording

Survey on the Effects of Classroom Censorship

How has classroom censorship affected you?


By design, the new School Resource Hub is responding to the needs of educators, students and families. Please help by letting us know how classroom censorship policies are affecting your classroom, your child or your own education. Help us spread the word!

Educator Survey
Student Survey
Family Survey (English)
Family Survey (Español)

Advocacy Tools

Visit the SEEN website and join a group!

Guide to Texas Classroom Censorship Bill 

See Texas SB 3 School Guide

Lessons Learned from our Classroom Censorship Advocacy

See Advocacy Guide (PDF)

Building Supportive Schools from the Ground Up

See Report (PDF)
IDRA is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college.  
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