UNITED STATES — The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) has officially finalized the state’s latest social studies standards, known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). While civil rights advocates and the Sikh community are celebrating the retention of Sikhi (Sikhism) in the statewide curriculum, they are simultaneously raising concerns over the removal of key religious observances and an increasing educational focus on Christianity.
Sikhism’s inclusion in the TEKS framework was first achieved in 2010, but its place in the latest 2026 draft was not guaranteed. According to a recent press release from the Sikh Coalition, preserving the faith in the curriculum required extensive grassroots advocacy. This effort included a petition signed by over 200 Texas sangat (community) members, a joint sign-on letter from 11 gurdwaras across the state, and 15 hours of in-person testimony delivered by Sikh Coalition Education Fellow Tarnoor Kaur.
“When Sikhi is included in a state’s standards document, it makes it far more likely to appear in classroom instruction and discussion; standards inform curriculum, which in turn determine what educators teach,” the Sikh Coalition stated, emphasizing the importance of the victory for minority representation.
Curriculum Gaps and Concerns Over Religious Bias
Despite the successful campaign to keep Sikhism in the TEKS standards, education and civil rights advocates have expressed deep disappointment with other major revisions. The SBOE voted to remove various cultural and religious observances from the curriculum—including Vaisakhi, one of the most historically significant observances in the Sikh faith.
Advocates argue that teaching these observances helps students understand how faith and community are experienced in everyday life. By removing them, the state creates a “significant gap between learning about a religion and understanding the people who practice it.”
Furthermore, the Sikh Coalition and partner organizations noted that the newly finalized Texas social studies standards place a disproportionate emphasis on Christianity and the Bible. Critics argue this shift mirrors harmful curriculum trends seen in other states, failing to provide students with a balanced global perspective and potentially alienating children from non-majority faith traditions.
Looking Ahead to 2030
The newly finalized TEKS standards will dictate the curriculum for millions of public school students across Texas beginning in the 2030-2031 academic year.
In the interim, organizations like the Sikh Coalition plan to continue working directly with Texas educators, parents, and students to integrate high-quality, accurate educational materials about Sikhs into local classrooms. Advocates maintain that inclusive education remains one of the most effective tools for combating bias-based bullying and ensuring a safe learning environment for all students.
