The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE), with input from teachers, content experts, and public hearings. TEKS are reviewed and revised on a multi-year cycle through the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Texas Curriculum Standards

What Is TEKS?

Q: What does TEKS stand for?

TEKS stands for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. It is the official curriculum standard adopted by the Texas State Board of Education that specifies what every Texas public-school student must learn at each grade level and in each subject.

Q: What is TEKS in simple terms?

TEKS is the master list of every topic, skill, and standard a Texas student is required to learn. Schools build their curriculum from it, the STAAR test is built from it, and every Texas Credit by Exam (CBE) is built directly from the TEKS for that course. If something is on the TEKS, it can be tested; if it's not on the TEKS, it won't be.

Q: How do you read a TEKS code?

A TEKS code like §111.39(c)(2)(A) reads as: §111.39 = the chapter (Algebra 1), (c) = the subject heading, (2) = the major standard (e.g., 'describe and graph linear functions'), (A) = a specific student-expectation sub-bullet. CBE practice questions tagged with a TEKS code tell you exactly which standard a question is testing.

TEKS stands for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills — the official curriculum standards adopted by the Texas State Board of Education that define exactly what every Texas public school student must learn at each grade level and in each subject. Every Texas Credit by Exam (CBE) is built directly from the TEKS.

Quick Definition

TEKS = Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. The master list of every topic, skill, and standard a Texas student is required to learn. Schools build their curriculum from TEKS, the STAAR test is built from TEKS, and the CBE is built from TEKS. If a topic is in the TEKS, it can be tested. If it's not, it won't be.

Why TEKS Matters for the Texas CBE

The Credit by Exam isn't built from a generic textbook or national curriculum — it's built straight from the TEKS standards for that specific course. That means:

TEKS-aligned practice = directly relevant practice. Every question, every concept, mapped to the standards the exam actually samples.
Non-TEKS material is wasted study time. A general Algebra 1 review course might cover topics the CBE never tests, while skipping standards that show up every year.
TEKS categories are the diagnostic. If you score low on a specific TEKS category in practice, that's exactly where to focus. Texas CBE™ tags every question by its TEKS code so weak points surface immediately.

How to Read a TEKS Code

A TEKS code looks intimidating but follows a strict pattern. Example for Algebra 1:

§111.39(c)(2)(A)
§111.39
Chapter (Algebra 1, in this case)
(c)
Subject heading inside that chapter
(2)
Major standard (e.g., "describe and graph linear functions")
(A)
Specific student-expectation sub-bullet

Texas CBE™ practice questions are tagged with these codes so you can drill a specific standard — or see exactly which one cost you points on a mock exam.

Who Writes TEKS?

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE), with input from teachers, content experts, and public hearings. TEKS were first adopted in 1997 and are reviewed and revised on a multi-year cycle administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The current versions for each subject are published in the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 111 (math), Chapter 112 (science), Chapter 113 (social studies), and so on.

TEKS for Each CBE Subject

Each subject page lists every TEKS reporting category that gets sampled on the CBE.

Algebra 1 TEKS

All reporting categories + practice

Geometry TEKS

All reporting categories + practice

Algebra 2 TEKS

All reporting categories + practice

Biology TEKS

All reporting categories + practice

U.S. History TEKS

All reporting categories + practice

TEKS FAQ

What does TEKS stand for?

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. It is the official curriculum standard adopted by the Texas State Board of Education that specifies what every Texas public-school student must learn at each grade level and in each subject.

What is TEKS in simple terms?

TEKS is the master list of every topic, skill, and standard a Texas student is required to learn. Schools build their curriculum from it, the STAAR test is built from it, and every Texas Credit by Exam (CBE) is built directly from the TEKS for that course. If something is on the TEKS, it can be tested. If it's not on the TEKS, it won't be.

Are TEKS the same as Common Core?

No. Texas explicitly opted out of Common Core. TEKS is Texas's own state-level standard, written and revised by the Texas State Board of Education, not by the national Common Core consortium. There is overlap in some math and reading topics but the standards, sequencing, and codes are independent.

How do you read a TEKS code?

A TEKS code like §111.39(c)(2)(A) reads as: §111.39 = the chapter (Algebra 1), (c) = subject heading, (2) = major standard, (A) = specific sub-bullet. CBE practice questions tagged with a TEKS code tell you exactly which standard the question is testing.

Where do I find the official TEKS?

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) publishes the current TEKS in the Texas Administrative Code: Chapter 111 (Math), Chapter 112 (Science), Chapter 113 (Social Studies), Chapter 110 (English), and so on. The TEA website (tea.texas.gov) hosts the most recent revisions and adoption history.

Why does TEKS matter for the CBE exam?

Because the CBE is built from the TEKS — not from a textbook, not from an AP outline, not from a national standard. TEKS-aligned practice hits exactly what the exam tests. Generic curriculum review may cover material the CBE never asks about while missing standards that appear on every exam.

TEKS-aligned CBE Prep — Free Samples

Every practice question tagged by TEKS code. Diagnose weak categories before exam day.

Browse CBE Subjects

Related Guides

What Is the Texas CBE Exam?

Cost, format, passing score, who can take it.

Long-Form: TEKS for CBE Students

In-depth blog version with code examples and student strategy.