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Senate Bill 3 (2nd C.S.) |
Senate Author: Hughes et al. |
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Effective: 12-2-21 |
House Sponsor: Huberty et al. |
Senate Bill 3 amends the Education Code to require the State Board of Education, in adopting state curriculum standards for kindergarten through grade 12 social studies, to include specified essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic knowledge. The bill requires the commissioner of education to establish civics training programs for teachers and administrators with the assistance of a civics training program advisory board created by the bill. The bill requires each public school district and open‑enrollment charter school to ensure that applicable educators attend such a program but authorizes the commissioner to delay implementation of this requirement until not later than the 2025‑2026 school year, subject to certain conditions.
Senate Bill 3 prohibits compelling a teacher in any course, subject, or grade level to discuss a widely debated and controversial issue of public policy or social affairs but requires a teacher who chooses to do so to explore the issue objectively and in a manner free from political bias. The bill prohibits a district, charter school, or teacher from requiring, making part of a course, or awarding a grade or course credit for a student's engagement in certain activities relating to lobbying or policy advocacy. The bill prohibits an employee of a district, charter school, or state agency from requiring or making part of a course inculcation in specified concepts relating to race and sex and from training or instructing staff, teachers, or administrators to the same effect.
Senate Bill 3 sets out related restrictions on the adoption and funding of curriculum and the implementation of instruction and provides for parental access to a learning management system or online learning portal, if applicable. The bill repeals and replaces certain provisions of House Bill 3979, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021.