Secondary Social Studies Newsletter

Welcome

Hello, I am Teaven Barnum the District Instructional Specialist for Secondary Social Studies. I'm excited to help you in any way that you need. You can reach me at teaven.barnum@killeenisd.org, text at 254-446-2873 or call my desk phone at 254-336-0253.

TEA Releases Guidance for School Systems Outlining Consequences Regarding Student Walkouts, Absences and Educator and District Responsibilities

AUSTIN, Texas – February 3, 2026 – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released guidance regarding student walkouts, absences and actions related to political activism in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s directive to investigate instances of inappropriate political activism deliberately disrupting the learning environment in Texas public schools.Consequences for students, teachers and school districts can include but are not limited to the following:

tea.texas.gov

Killeen ISD Team,

The Texas Education Agency issued guidance to school districts on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, about student walkouts, absences and educator and district responsibilities. Killeen ISD will follow this guidance. This message is a reminder of expectations for all KISD employees.

TEA guidance and state law are clear: school systems and district staff may not encourage, support, or facilitate political activism that disrupts instruction during the school day. KISD employees are also expected to follow district policy, the KISD Employee Handbook and the Texas Educator Code of Ethics.

In Killeen ISD, that means:

Employees must remain politically neutral while working with students during the school day.
Employees may not encourage or facilitate student walkouts.
Instruction should continue as normal for students who remain in class.

Per TEA, district staff who facilitate walkouts are subject to investigations and potential licensure revocation.

If a student leaves class, notify your campus administration immediately.

Thank you for your professionalism every day and for keeping the focus on student safety and learning.

Sincerely,

Killeen ISD

Social Studies TEKS Review & Revisions Process Update

In January, the SBOE met, and Content Advisors presented their recommendations for Key Topics and Subtopics. At the end of the week, the SBOE voted to approve this draft (with a few amendments to K-2), which will be shared with Work Groups. Discussion of the proposed Key Topics/Subtopics can seen here starting at 7:00:20, with further discussion here at 2:14:52, and the final vote here at 2:11:52.

There does seem to be many entry points for sound geographic instruction in K-8; however, the recommendation for High School World Geography largely eliminates contemporary geography, replacing geographic inquiry and geospatial thinking with a mostly historical focus.

It is unclear how binding these recommendations will be on Work Groups. SBOE Members did not seem to be in agreement about whether the recommendations should be seen as guidance or whether Work Groups would need to stick to the recommendations as the TEKS are fleshed out. According to the SBOE process, the "TEA works with SBOE chair to determine the charge of the first work group before building the work group in order to ensure individuals have the right expertise." (Step 11C)

Action Items

Work Groups - The deadline for applications has been pushed back and currently remain open. If you are interested in helping shape the Social Studies standards for Texas students, there is still time to apply. Multiple work groups will be convened.

Review Standard Drafts and Provide Feedback - We encourage you to review the draft standards and provide feedback to TEA and State Board of Education members. We will notify you once the drafts are posted online and keep you informed about opportunities to submit comments.

African American History

The National Archives holds a wealth of material documenting the African American experience and highlights these resources online, in programs, and through traditional and social media. Explore our records documenting African American History through the African American Research page and within the National Archives Catalog. See more resources on the Martin Luther King Jr.

archives.gov

Presidential 1776 Award for High School Students

I am pleased to invite high school students in your state to participate in the Presidential 1776 Award, a national civics competition to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial. As America’s 250th birthday approaches, the Department is working to reignite students’ understanding of civics and the principles that shaped the United States. After two rounds of local and regional finals, the top four students from each region move on to the national final, held in Washington, D.C. in June 2026, where three winners will receive scholarships totaling $250,000.

This nationwide scholarship competition challenges students to demonstrate their knowledge of the Constitution, the American founding, and the principles that define our nation. From February to June 2026, students will compete in three rounds of multiple-choice and short answer verbal examinations, independently developed by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. Through this competitive process, students will showcase their exceptional knowledge of America’s founding principles.

The award offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their strong understanding of our founding principles—individual liberty, self-governance, and equality—and earn a significant scholarship reward. When young Americans understand our history, they are better equipped to uphold these core values—and this program is built on that principle.

As state leaders, I know you are all dedicated to maximizing opportunities for our students. I urge you to do two things: first, publicly encourage students in your state to take part in this competition, and second, share this information with high school leaders and school counselors in your state. This opportunity offers students the unique opportunity to chart a path toward a bright, promising, American future.

I look forward to collaborating with you as we launch this exciting new initiative for our nation’s students. For more information, read the full press release here and see the test rules here. Students may register for the test here.

Together, let’s inspire the next generation of leaders who will carry forward the principles that have made our Nation great.

Respectfully,

Kirsten Baesler, Assistant Secretary

Office of Elementary & Secondary Education

U.S. Department of Education

As we approach the STAAR review window for 8th and 11th grade Social Studies, I wanted to send a clear reminder of the plan, expectations, and supports that have already been communicated to ensure we maximize our 11 dedicated review days in the pacing calendar.

To support this work, the district has purchased Lowman Education STAARBlitz for all 8th and 11th grade Social Studies teachers. While the Blitz provides strong guidance on which standards to prioritize, the instructional materials themselves are not student-friendly or engagement-forward on their own. The expectation is that the Blitz serves as a framework, not a script.

Campus Leadership Expectations

Deans of Instruction and Campus Instructional Specialists are expected to internalize Day 1 of the STAAR Blitz and present that lesson as an exemplar during Social Studies PLCs.
As part of internalization, leaders should annotate the lesson to include:

Time stamps
Anticipated student misconceptions
Omissions or gaps identified in the Blitz materials
Instructional moves aligned to the Gradual Release of Responsibility
Connections to previous learning and prerequisite standards

If additional content support is needed, leadership teams are encouraged to collaborate with Lead Social Studies Teachers.
Leadership teams should be intentional about knowing when Social Studies review is occurring and prioritize walkthroughs during review lessons to monitor implementation and student engagement.

Instructional Expectations for Review

The Lowman STAAR Blitz should be paired with district-approved resources such as Social Studies Success, Lead4ward, and other vetted tools to increase student-centered and collaborative instructional moves.
Review lessons should move away from teachers simply presenting Blitz PowerPoints and over-relying on note-taking. The focus should be on active processing, discussion, and application of the content.

Lead Teacher Expectations

Lead Social Studies Teachers brought prepared STAAR review lesson exemplars to our February 5th Lead Teacher Meeting and we shared ideas and effective practices across campuses.
Lead teachers may also support their campus PLCs by modeling or sharing engagement-focused review strategies.

Support

Teachers and leaders are encouraged to email me their exemplar review lessons. I am happy to provide feedback, help strengthen student engagement, or assist with lesson refinement.

Thank you for your continued collaboration as we work to make our STAAR review time meaningful, engaging, and effective for students. Please reach out if you need support as you prepare for this work.

The American Revolutionary War: Part II (Spring 2026 Webinar)

On February 10, 2026, Humanities Texas will hold a webinar examining the American Revolutionary War from late 1777, following the Battle of Saratoga, through its conclusion in 1784. This is the fifth in a series of webinars held in 2025–2026 to commemorate the United States Semiquincentennial.

humanitiestexas.org

Teaching STEM Advances and Milestones in U.S. History (Spring 2026 Webinar)

On March 3, 2026, Humanities Texas will hold a webinar facilitated by IEEE REACH (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) to introduce teachers to a variety of resources and strategies that situate science, technology, and engineering in their social and humanistic contexts.

humanitiestexas.org

First person to e-mail me with the correct answer gets a prize.

Secondary Social Studies Newsletter

Feb. 2025

Welcome

TEA Releases Guidance for School Systems Outlining Consequences Regarding Student Walkouts, Absences and Educator and District Responsibilities

Social Studies TEKS Review & Revisions Process Update

Black History Month

The African American Story | Texas State History Museum

Home

African American Heritage | Texas Time Travel

African Americans

Texas Observes Juneteenth

African American History

African American History and Culture in the United States

The Nazi Persecution of Black People in Germany

Presidential 1776 Award for High School Students

The American Revolutionary War: Part II (Spring 2026 Webinar)

Teaching STEM Advances and Milestones in U.S. History (Spring 2026 Webinar)

The Great Depression (Spring 2026 In-Person Workshop)

America After the American Revolution (Spring 2026 Webinar)

American Indians in Texas: From the Spanish Era through the Red River War (Spring 2026 In-Person Workshop)

Created with

Communicate quickly and effectively with interactive newsletters.

Welcome

CONTENT CONTENT

Social Studies TEKS ﻿Review & Revisions Process Update

Black History Month Black History Month

Presidential 1776 Award for High School Students

CONSISTENCY CONSISTENCY

STAAR Review STAAR Review

COACHING COACHING

Professional Development Professional Development

Don't make me repeat myself. -History Don't make me repeat myself. -History

Previous KISD Secondary Social Studies Newsletters Previous KISD Secondary Social Studies Newsletters

Created with

Communicate quickly and effectively with interactive newsletters.

Social Studies TEKS Review & Revisions Process Update