'We're still here': Native Americans push for native studies elective in Texas high schools

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Native American advocates are hoping the Texas State Board of Education approves a new "American Indian/Native Studies" elective for Texas high schoolers -- but they are running out of time to get it into classrooms by next school year.

"I had two sons that went through public schools, and I saw the lack of content that they were taught in school," Comanche Nation Elder Hawana Townsley said. "We are still here, and that's what we're asking for this course to communicate and to give to the children of our state -- is that understanding that we are still here and we are of value."

The course was designed with input from dozens of native nations and has received the backing of major educational institutes and civil rights groups. Last year, the State Board of Education's Committee on Instruction voted to have the full board review the course, but it has not yet been added to a meeting agenda for consideration.

State Board of Education Chair Aaron Kinsey refuted some advocates' characterization that he had removed the course from the agenda. The item was never on the April agenda, he told Nexstar.

"I worked with TEA staff to confirm that Native American Studies is available as an innovative course for any Texas public school system to offer during the 2024-25 school year," Chairman Kinsey said. "I appreciate the variety of input received regarding this course."

Townsley believes approval by the whole board will give the course the "oomph" it needs to expand statewide. She worries Friday is the last day they can get the course on the Board's agenda if they are to have any hope of adding it to next school year's curriculum. They urge Kinsey to open the course up for consideration on the next agenda.

"It's a very tight timeline. We're trying not to be frantic about it, but we really want this to go through first reading, go through comments, second reading, (and) be approved," she said.

Grand Prairie ISD was the first to pilot the course for the last two and a half years. The Texas Education Agency approved it as an "Innovative Course" in August 2023.

Robstown ISD and Crowley ISD have adopted it since then, and Fort Worth ISD is in the process of offering it to students.

"We think it's a wonderful opportunity for children," Annette Anderson with the Indigenous Institute of the Americas said. "It's an important, very valuable, and rich history of the Texas as well as the United States' American Indian story."

The Board is set to meet again April 9.