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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to civics instruction in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.466 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.466. CIVICS COURSE TRAINING. The agency shall |
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advise school districts regarding training materials and resources |
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for a school district to use in assisting educators to: |
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(1) develop civics projects and methods of teaching as |
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described in Section 28.0022; |
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(2) understand and teach the relevance of: |
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(A) public policy; and |
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(B) the structure of federal, state, and local |
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governments; and |
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(3) engage students in: |
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(A) thinking critically; |
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(B) working cooperatively; |
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(C) identifying issues in the community; |
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(D) researching a problem, evaluating |
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alternative outcomes, and developing a solution; and |
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(E) creating public policy or action plans. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through |
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grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum: |
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(1) a foundation curriculum that includes: |
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(A) English language arts; |
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(B) mathematics; |
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(C) science; and |
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(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United |
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States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on |
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the free enterprise system and its benefits, civics, and geography; |
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and |
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(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes: |
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(A) to the extent possible, languages other than |
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English; |
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(B) health, with emphasis on: |
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(i) physical health, including the |
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importance of proper nutrition and exercise; |
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(ii) mental health, including instruction |
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about mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage |
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emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and |
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responsible decision-making; and |
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(iii) suicide prevention, including |
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recognizing suicide-related risk factors and warning signs; |
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(C) physical education; |
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(D) fine arts; |
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(E) career and technology education; |
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(F) technology applications; |
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(G) religious literature, including the Hebrew |
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Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on |
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history and literature; and |
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(H) personal financial literacy. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0022. CIVICS INSTRUCTION. (a) The essential |
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knowledge and skills for the social studies curriculum under |
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Section 28.002 must include instruction in civics: |
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(1) at least once in grade four, five, six, seven, or |
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eight; and |
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(2) as part of one or more courses offered at the high |
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school level that satisfy graduation requirements under Section |
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28.025. |
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(b) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school |
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that offers a high school program shall provide an elective course |
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in civics that meets the requirements for one credit in civics under |
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Section 28.025(b-1)(4). |
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(c) The State Board of Education shall develop a civics |
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curriculum as described by this section. The curriculum must be |
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developed to: |
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(1) measure the civics learning objectives contained |
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in the essential knowledge and skills for social studies; |
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(2) demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of |
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the relevance of: |
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(A) public policy; and |
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(B) the structure of federal, state, and local |
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governments; and |
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(3) include opportunities for students to engage in: |
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(A) thinking critically; |
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(B) working cooperatively; |
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(C) identifying issues in the community; |
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(D) researching a problem, evaluating |
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alternative outcomes, and developing a solution; and |
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(E) creating public policy or action plans. |
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(d) In implementing the curriculum described under this |
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section, each school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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shall develop a course of study that is project based. The course |
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of study may take the form of a capstone project, portfolio, or |
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presentation. The course of study must: |
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(1) use inquiry-based learning; |
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(2) focus on problem solving; and |
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(3) address an issue that is relevant to the students. |
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(e) Not later than September 1 of every even-numbered year, |
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each school district and open-enrollment charter school shall |
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submit to the agency a report that describes the projects developed |
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through civics courses offered by the district or school. |
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(f) The agency shall adopt rules necessary to gather data |
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and conduct research to substantiate any correlation between taking |
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a civics course offered under this section and student achievement |
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under Section 39.053. |
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SECTION 4. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require |
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that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school |
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program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students |
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successfully complete: |
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(1) four credits in English language arts under |
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Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one |
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credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in |
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an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(2) three credits in mathematics under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in |
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geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course |
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authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(3) three credits in science under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any |
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advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one |
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credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional |
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advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(4) three credits in social studies under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at |
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least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in |
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economics, and one credit in world geography, [or] world history, |
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or civics; |
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(5) except as provided under Subsections (b-12), |
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(b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language |
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other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A); |
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(6) five elective credits; |
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(7) one credit in fine arts under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(D); and |
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(8) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one |
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credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C). |
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SECTION 5. Not later than September 1, 2022, each school |
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district and open-enrollment charter school shall submit the |
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initial report required under Section 28.0022, Education Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |