A team of Texas teachers said they skipped class Wednesday for the sake of their students.

“We are here to fight for a curriculum framework that will ensure the success of all Texas students," said Cynthia Tyroff, a Texas curriculum specialist.

The State Board of Education is considering a revision to state curriculum standards for English, language arts and reading instruction in grades K-12.

The full board was set to take a preliminary vote on the standards Thursday -- with a final vote set for next month.

Coalitions of teacher groups representing 13,000 Texas teachers descended upon Austin to ask the board to hold off.

Instead of curriculum guidelines put together by teachers, the board is voting on guidelines developed by a consultant. Teachers said they need time to rework the proposal.

"Please do not tie our hands and longer, we are tired," said Alana Morris, president of the Coalition of Reading and English Supervisors of Texas.

The teachers object to several standards up for board consideration. Concerns include a lack of emphasis on teaching reading comprehension, no attention to literacy in new technologies, and perhaps the most objectionable for teachers -- a state-adopted reading list.

Never before has a reading list been mandated.

"Suddenly they think we're reliable enough to make those decisions. I think that's what they're saying," said Carol Revelle, a high school reading teacher.

The debate also pits student futures against what some teachers said is over-reliance on the past.

The proposed standards didn't include input from teachers of predominantly Hispanic students, the fastest growing group of students in Texas. The reading list also lacks multi-cultural literature.

"People want to go back in time, perhaps to Happy Days, and don't want to face the changing times, and don't want to face that we are now a global society," said Tyroff.

Chairman Don McLeroy, who supports the consultant-driven standards, declined a request for an interview.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported McLeroy said "nobody" liked what the teachers put together.

Teachers packed a public hearing at the SBOE meeting in Austin to put forth their objections and ask board members to postpone. A preliminary vote on the controversial guidelines is set for Thursday.