School board delays curriculum vote

AUSTIN (AP/KXAN) - After tackling hip-hop, McCarthyism and immigration, the State Board of Education abruptly ended consideration of new standards for teaching social studies today.

The panel put off until March a tentative vote on the guidelines that could have an impact on classrooms nationwide.

The board had been expected to take a first vote on the guidelines later today. That's after several days of discussion on topics such as which historical figures to hold students accountable for learning and whether second-graders should be taught Aesop's Fables.

But as the debate stretched on, the board decided it needed to move on to finalizing details on new high school graduation requirements. Approving those requirements was deemed time-sensitive as students will soon begin to register for next year's classes.

The delay leaves discussion of a slew of issues regarding high school social studies, history and economics classes unfinished until the board's March meeting. A final vote on new standards will now be set for May.