Public school students in Texas may or may not learn about important African-American and Latino historical figures because many of the lessons are optional, according to a by University of Texas researchers. And when it comes to Native Americans and Asian Americans in Texas, "it's almost as if they didn't exist," says the study's author, Professor .
Heilig's study, published in the Harvard Educational Review, examined 11th grade social studies standards. The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS (pronounced teeks), is a set of guidelines adopted by the elected State Board of Education through a highly charged political process in 2010. The standards will be used in public school classrooms for a decade.
Listen to Heilig's critique by clicking the player above, or for yourself.
