Texas School Board to Vote on Science Textbooks Amid Climate Change Debate

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas State Board of Education is expected to vote Friday on whether to approve new science textbooks for use in the state's public schools. The vote is expected to be close, with some Republican members of the board criticizing the books for being too negative toward fossil fuels.

The Issue

Texas is the largest oil and gas producing state in the U.S., and the issue of how to teach climate change in schools has been a contentious one for years. The state's current science standards, which were adopted in 2021, do not mention creationism as an alternative to evolution. They also describe human factors as contributors to climate change.

However, some Republicans on the board have criticized the current textbooks for being too negative toward fossil fuels and failing to include alternatives to evolution. One of Texas' regulators of the oil and gas industry, Republican Wayne Christian, has urged the board to "choose books that promote the importance of fossil fuels for energy promotion."

The Vote

Friday's vote will decide whether the proposed textbooks meet the standards set in 2021. According to Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center on Science Education, multiple books comply with the regulations set then by the board and follow the consensus of the scientific community.

Scientists overwhelmingly agree that heat-trapping gases released from the combustion of fossil fuels are pushing up global temperatures, upending weather patterns, and endangering animal species. However, some members of the board, including Republican Aaron Kinsey, have criticized the textbooks for negatively portraying the oil and gas industry.

The Impact

Texas has more than 1,000 school districts, and none are obligated to use textbooks approved by the board. Still, the endorsements carry weight. If the board rejects a textbook, it could make it more difficult for schools to purchase that book. This could lead to students being taught inaccurate or incomplete information about science.

In a letter to the board, the National Science Teaching Association urged the board not to "allow misguided objections to evolution and climate change impede the adoption of science textbooks in Texas."

The vote on the science textbooks is just the latest in a series of battles over curriculum in Texas. In recent years, the board has also faced heated debates over how to teach evolution and U.S. history. The outcome of Friday's vote will have a significant impact on how science is taught in Texas schools.