By Telford, Longoria, Howard,                          H.B. No. 946
         77R8000 CAS-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to character education programs in public schools.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 29.903 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 29.903.  CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM.  (a)  A school
 1-7     district may provide a character education program.
 1-8           (b)  A character education program under this section must:
 1-9                 (1)  stress positive character traits, such as:
1-10                       (A)  courage;
1-11                       (B)  trustworthiness, including honesty,
1-12     reliability, punctuality, and loyalty;
1-13                       (C)  integrity;
1-14                       (D)  respect and courtesy;
1-15                       (E)  responsibility, including accountability,
1-16     diligence, perseverance, and self-control;
1-17                       (F)  fairness, including justice and freedom from
1-18     prejudice;
1-19                       (G)  caring, including kindness, empathy,
1-20     compassion, consideration, patience, generosity, and charity;
1-21                       (H)  good citizenship, including patriotism,
1-22     concern for the common good and the community, and respect for
1-23     authority and the law; and
1-24                       (I)  school pride;
1-25                 (2)  use integrated teaching strategies; and
 2-1                 (3)  be age appropriate.
 2-2           (c)  In developing or selecting a character education program
 2-3     under this section, a school district shall consult with a
 2-4     committee selected by the district that consists of:
 2-5                 (1)  parents of district students;
 2-6                 (2)  educators; and
 2-7                 (3)  other members of the community, including
 2-8     community leaders.
 2-9           (d)  This section does not require or authorize proselytizing
2-10     or indoctrinating concerning any specific religious or political
2-11     belief.
2-12           (e)  The agency shall:
2-13                 (1)  maintain a list of character education programs
2-14     that school districts have implemented that meet the criteria under
2-15     Subsection (b);
2-16                 (2)  based on data reported by districts, annually
2-17     designate as a Character Plus School each school that provides a
2-18     character education program that:
2-19                       (A)  meets the criteria prescribed by Subsection
2-20     (b); and
2-21                       (B)  is approved by the committee selected under
2-22     Subsection (c); and
2-23                 (3)  include in the report required under Section
2-24     39.182:
2-25                       (A)  based on data reported by districts, the
2-26     impact of character education programs on student discipline and
2-27     academic achievement; and
 3-1                       (B)  other reported data relating to character
 3-2     education programs the agency considers appropriate for inclusion.
 3-3           (f)  The agency may accept money from federal government and
 3-4     private sources to use in assisting school districts in
 3-5     implementing character education programs that meet the criteria
 3-6     prescribed by Subsection (b).
 3-7           SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
 3-8     school year.
 3-9           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-10     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-11     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
3-12     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-13     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.