Cultural heritage course name causes controversy among Texas education leaders

High school students across Texas may soon be able to take elective courses on Mexican-American studies, but the name of the class caused controversy with state leaders.

The State Board of Education approved the course Wednesday with a 14 to-1 vote, renaming the class “Ethnic Studies: An overview of Americans of Mexican Descent.”

Conservative board members said the name was less divisive than Mexican-American Studies.

In 2014, the same Republican-controlled board refused to approve a statewide Mexican-American class, causing Texas school districts to create their own curriculum.

The Austin American-Statesman reported board member Georgina Perez, of El Paso, was the only Democrat to vote in favor of the course name change saying that she didn’t
want to run the risk of fellow members voting the course down.

In a statement to The Statesman, El Paso state Democrat Sen. Jose Rodriguez said: “This vote will provide some uniformity in curriculum standards for school districts wishing to offer the (Mexican-American Studies) course; they should, given that 52 percent of public education students in Texas are Latino.”

The board still needs to come up an outline of course content. The 2019/2020 school would be the earliest students could takes the course.

The Associated Press Contributed to this article.