TEA: Cancel Cesar Chavez Instruction & Activities
The TEA today (March 23, 2026) ordered public schools to cancel or “otherwise redirect” instruction and activities related to Cesar Chavez.
The TEA’s To the Administrator Addressed letter says that the order was issued in light of: 1) the upcoming (March 31) optional Cesar Chavez Day state holiday, 2) Gov. Abbott‘s March 18 directive prohibiting state agencies from observing the holiday and 3) Social Studies TEKS requirements that include required lessons about Chavez.
Key Points
These are the key points in the TEA’s directive:
- Cancel or redirect events — Schools that had planned Cesar Chavez Day celebrations on the optional state holiday should cancel or redirect those activities.
- Note: Austin ISD will remain closed on March 31, but will celebrate the day as Dolores Huerta Day, and Houston ISD will observe the holiday as Farmworkers Day.
- Future TEKS changes — The State Board of Education (which is already in the process of rewriting Social Studies TEKS) is expected to remove Chavez-focused student expectations going forward. (See related Dallas Express article.)
- Remove curriculum content — Schools should eliminate, modify or alter learning activities, lessons, and materials that reference Chavez — even though current Social Studies TEKS includes lessons about him in multiple grades.
- No non-compliance penalty — The TEA will not penalize schools for failing to cover Chavez-related Social Studies TEKS student expectations.
Legal Justification
As a legal justification, the directive cites Texas Education Code §28.0022(a)(1), which states that teachers cannot be compelled to discuss “a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs,” as the basis for overriding existing curriculum requirements.
