Conservatives win textbook battle

AUSTIN (KXAN) - After impassioned debate from both sides, the Texas Board of Education on Friday approved new standards for American history textbooks that will govern what children are taught for the next decade.

By a 10-5 vote conservatives won the day, with standards that reflect more traditional teachings that place an emphasis on the exceptionalism of America and the free market system. The vote was the exact opposite outcome from ten years ago, when liberals pressed for a more diverse, progressive  approach.

The standards will set the norm for the educational perspective on writers, philosophers, economists, artists and other figures that have impacted Texas and U.S. history. Because of the enormous demand from Texas for textbooks, the new standards are likely to have trendsetting effects on social studies education across the country.

Board member Rick Agosto, a Democrat, said the contributions of Hispanics and other minorities were shortchanged, and he graded the new standards "one jalapeño out of five."

Republican board member Terri Leo said, "We've included more diversity of both significant events and specific people than ever before."

The board considered about 300 amendments throughout January and March leading up to Friday's vote.

The new standards will receive a final vote in May.

Also at Friday's meeting, board members voted in a new accountability system for educator preparation programs. The system will provide rating for such programs based on how well their graduates fair in certification tests, appraisals and board compliance.

The first ratings will be issued in the spring of 2012, based on the 2010-2011 academic year.

The board also made its first ever real estate purchase in part of the Permanent School Fund, entering into agreements with Mesa West Real Estate Income Fund II, L.P. and Invesco Mortgage Recovery Fund.