AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – The Texas Board of Education has issued a second call for ethnic studies textbooks for possible statewide use after a similar 2014 request produced just one, heavily criticized book.
Tuesday’s decision means publishers can submit textbooks for possible board approval next year.
Two years ago, the Republican-controlled board defeated a proposal to create a full Mexican-American studies course statewide.
Instead, it asked publishers to submit proposed ethnic studies textbooks that high schools could use to create their own courses.
But only one Mexican-American studies book was offered. Activists and scholars have roundly criticized it as rife with errors and promoting racist stereotypes, including suggesting that Mexicans are lazy.
On Wednesday, the board is expected to preliminarily reject that book, with a final vote against it likely coming Friday.
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