AUSTIN, Texas — Changes to the Texas social studies curriculum may be coming soon. 

The state requires educators to cover what they call standards, people and places in history, from grades K-12. But the Texas State Board of Education says there’s far too many of those.

“They breeze through these courses to check off a box because that’s what they’re required to do so it’s a lot of pressure on the teachers,” Marisa B. Perez-Diaz, SBOE District 3 member said. 

On Friday, board members voted to remove some standards from the curriculum. Those standards include figures like Helen Keller, Barry Goldwater and Hillary Clinton. The board says it’s about getting rid of redundancy.

“We’re not just talking about individuals we’re talking about perhaps different events that took place,” Perez-Diaz said. “The intent of this streamlining is to give teachers—not cut them a break—but give them a chance to go back into the work of teaching rather than just having to check off a box.”

The vote just means educators wouldn’t be required to teach those standards, but it doesn't mean the lessons are off the plate.

“Teachers are absolutely encouraged to go above and beyond what’s in the standard,” Perez-Diaz said.

The board's vote also includes changes to language about the Alamo in classrooms, including use of the word heroic when describing defenders.