John,

On Friday, Texas took a small but important step forward in teaching public school students the truth about climate change. Heeding calls from the Texas Freedom Network and other advocates, the State Board of Education adopted new curriculum standards for high school elective courses that include key requirements focused on this global crisis.

We must continue our vital work to promote the truth in our classrooms. This vote came after Texas earned an F in a national report card — released last fall by the TFN Education Fund and the National Center for Science Education — that evaluated how each state’s science standards address the reality and impact of human-caused climate change.

That report card pointed out how the current Texas standards, adopted in 2009 by a state board dominated by climate deniers, barely discuss the issue. And when they do mention it, those standards suggest climate change might not even be happening. We are so grateful to the many advocates who have testified at public hearings and urged their board members to change this over the past year.

But while this vote represents progress, TFN’s campaign to #TeachTheTruth isn’t over. Last November the state board also added new standards that address climate change in core high school courses. And TFN is pushing the board to go much further when it passes new science standards for grades K-8 later this year.

We will keep you informed about our progress.

You can continue to support teaching sound science, especially about climate change, in Texas classrooms by making a meaningful donation today to TFN.

In the fight,

Val Benavidez
TFN President