After years of cultural battles, Texas Ed Board to vote on changing textbook review process

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas' longstanding cultural battle over textbook content could be inching toward a cease-fire.

The Board of Education votes Friday on proposals to tighten rules on who can serve on citizen review panels. Those are volunteers who scrutinize books proposed for use statewide.

In past years, some panelists have been social and religious conservatives who raised objections about science texts with extensive lessons on climate change and evolution.

Others suggested tweaking state curriculum to emphasize the importance of Christian doctrine in America's founding.

Up for approval is a mandate that teachers or professors be given priority for serving on textbook panels for subjects in their areas of expertise.

The board also may limit how much contact its own members can have with reviewers, so as not to unfairly influence them.