IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1593 

Supporting academically based social studies curriculum standards for the 

Nation’s elementary and secondary education public school textbooks. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 30, 2010 

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. 

HINOJOSA, Mr. REYES, and Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 

and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting academically based social studies curriculum 

standards for the Nation’s elementary and secondary 

education public school textbooks. 

Whereas the National Council for the Social Studies believes 

that State social studies standards should be developed 

by consulting scholars for their expertise, soliciting input 

from community members and educators, and having 

master social studies educators write standards to ensure 

that they are effective and grade appropriate; 

Whereas the Texas State Board of Education appointed 

teachers and scholars to serve on writing teams and 

tasked them to use their expertise and professional judgment to draft curriculum standards for each subject or 

grade level; 


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•HRES 1593 IH 

Whereas elected officials at the Texas State Board of Education disregarded many academically based recommendations and approved politically biased standards 

within the curriculum that are outside of mainstream 

scholarship; 

Whereas due to the size and influence of the Texas textbook 

market, curriculum standards adopted in Texas have long 

exerted a strong influence on public school textbooks used 

around the United States; 

Whereas changes made by the Texas State Board of Education, such as downplaying the struggle leading up to 

and during the civil rights movement and undermining 

basic concepts of the constitutionally mandated boundaries between institutions of religion and government are 

outside the mainstream of historical scholarship; 

Whereas over 1,200 history scholars from universities across 

Texas and the Nation signed a letter stating that Texas’ 

social studies curriculum revisions would undermine the 

study of the social sciences in public schools by misrepresenting and even distorting the historical record and the 

functioning of United States society; and 

Whereas civil rights organizations expressed concern that the 

curriculum standards adopted by the Texas State Board 

of Education do not accurately portray the struggle by 

minorities and women to achieve civil and equal rights in 

the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports standards that guide curriculum 

3 development, instruction, and assessment in classVerDate Mar 15 2010 19:39 Jul 31, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1593.IH HR1593

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•HRES 1593 IH 

1 rooms that are developed by experts and not subject 

2 to political biases; 

3 (2) supports social studies curriculum stand4 ards that reflect current historical scholarship to ac5 curately present vocabulary and content-specific 

6 knowledge to students, help students acquire the an7 alytical skills to understand chronology, and engage 

8 in comprehension, interpretation, problem-solving, 

9 and decisionmaking required for college readiness 

10 and the 21st century workforce; 

11 (3) supports social studies curriculum stand12 ards that accurately address the fundamental con13 flicts and triumphs that have shaped the Nation’s 

14 past and influence its future; and 

15 (4) supports social studies curriculum stand16 ards that are clear, informed, and inclusive to allow 

17 students to be knowledgeable of the Nation’s diverse 

18 history and culture, just as our diversity represents 

19 an integral part of the Nation as a whole. 

Æ 


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