1.13.26

“Bringing Traditional, Classical Literature Back to Texas Schools” 

By Donna Garner

All Texas parents who care about their children learning rich, traditional, classical pieces of literature (along with the associative Social Studies knowledge and skills) should be jumping up and down with excitement.

The Texas Education Agency has just released the draft of the required, minimum literary and historical selections that students in Texas public schools are to read in their entirety – Grades K-12. 

(This means students will be reading the entire selection and not simply “bits and pieces.”)

For parents who have been longing for their children to get back to reading the “greats” that so many previous generations read, this is a HAPPY DAY INDEED.

 

IMPORTANT TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY LINKS ON WEBSITE

Here are the important links on the TEA website: 

On the following page there is background information and three links related to the proposed Literary Works list: 

House Bill 1605 and IMRA | Texas Education Agency

By scrolling down a little bit, you will see the following link which provides an explanation as to the methodology and the exact wording in the state law: 

Background: Pre-Read to Support Review of List 

 

TO READ INFORMATION AND TO SEE THE ACTUAL LITERARY LIST BY GRADE LEVEL – K - 12

TEA: Literary Works List & Proposed Rule Language   

 

KINDERGARTEN – pp. 3 – 4

FIRST GRADE – pp. 5 – 6

SECOND GRADE – pp. 7 – 8

THIRD GRADE – pp. 9 – 10

FOURTH GRADE – pp. 11 – 12

FIFTH GRADE – p. 13

SIXTH GRADE – p. 16

SEVENTH GRADE – p. 17

EIGHTH GRADE – p. 18

ENGLISH I – p. 21

ENGLISH II –  p. 22

ENGLISH III – p. 23

ENGLISH IV – p. 24 

 

MORE ABOUT THE LITERARY SELECTIONS THEMSELVES 

Excerpts as stated:  

“The literary works required by this section represent the minimum literary works to be read by or for students in that grade.” 

“Additional literary works to be used in instruction may be selected at the local level.” 

“When making local selections of additional literary works for instruction in English language arts and reading, school districts and charter schools should prioritize texts with content that reinforces required student expectations of knowledge from other subjects, including social studies.”

“It is recommended that students read from printed versions of required literary works as opposed to digital copies on digital devices.”

 

BLUEBONNET LEARNING AND IMRA

Gives the TEA the responsibility to develop state-owned textbooks that are subject to approval by SBOE – called “Bluebonnet Learning Instructional Materials” -- https://tea.texas.gov/academics/instructional-materials/bluebonnet-learning

Explanation of SBOE Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA):

https://sboe.texas.gov/state-board-of-education/imra

Information about HB 1605 and the latest news from the Texas Education Agency and the Texas State Board of Education: 

https://tea.texas.gov/academics/instructional-materials/house-bill-1605/house-bill-1605-and-imra

 

MORE INFORMATION

4.27.22 -- “Only Two Types of Education – Type #1 v. Type #2 – Cannot Mix – Just Like Oil and Water” -- by Donna Garner – https://donnagarner.org/only-two-types-of-education-type-1-v-type-2-cannot-mix-just-like-oil-and-water-com/

9.18.25 --“Texas SBOE Voted To Teach History in Logical Order” -- From Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/9-18-25-texas-sboe-voted-to-teach-history-in-logical-order-from-donna-garner/

8.28.25 -- “TX Schools Using New, Printed, Character-Building Curriculum” -- From Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/8-28-25-tx-schools-using-new-printed-character-building-curriculum-from-donna-garner/

11.24.25 -- “TX Com. of Education Morath Presents Latest News About Texas Public Schools” -- From Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/11-24-25-tx-com-of-education-morath-presents-the-latest-news-about-texas-public-schools-from-donna-garner/

9.12.25 -- “Scrutiny of TX Public Schools by Com. Morath” -- By Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/9-12-25-scrutiny-of-tx-public-schools-by-com-morath-by-donna-garner/

6.6.25 -- “Facts All Parents Need To Know About the Education of Their Children” -- By Donna Garner, Experienced Educator -- https://donnagarner.org/6-6-25-facts-all-parents-need-to-know-about-the-education-of-their-children-by-donna-garner/