1-1 By: Telford, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Cain) H.B. No. 946 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 4, 2001; 1-3 April 9, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Education; May 8, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 8, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to character education programs in public schools. 1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-10 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is 1-11 amended by adding Section 29.903 to read as follows: 1-12 Sec. 29.903. CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) A school 1-13 district may provide a character education program. 1-14 (b) A character education program under this section must: 1-15 (1) stress positive character traits, such as: 1-16 (A) courage; 1-17 (B) trustworthiness, including honesty, 1-18 reliability, punctuality, and loyalty; 1-19 (C) integrity; 1-20 (D) respect and courtesy; 1-21 (E) responsibility, including accountability, 1-22 diligence, perseverance, and self-control; 1-23 (F) fairness, including justice and freedom from 1-24 prejudice; 1-25 (G) caring, including kindness, empathy, 1-26 compassion, consideration, patience, generosity, and charity; 1-27 (H) good citizenship, including patriotism, 1-28 concern for the common good and the community, and respect for 1-29 authority and the law; and 1-30 (I) school pride; 1-31 (2) use integrated teaching strategies; and 1-32 (3) be age appropriate. 1-33 (c) In developing or selecting a character education program 1-34 under this section, a school district shall consult with a 1-35 committee selected by the district that consists of: 1-36 (1) parents of district students; 1-37 (2) educators; and 1-38 (3) other members of the community, including 1-39 community leaders. 1-40 (d) This section does not require or authorize proselytizing 1-41 or indoctrinating concerning any specific religious or political 1-42 belief. 1-43 (e) The agency shall: 1-44 (1) maintain a list of character education programs 1-45 that school districts have implemented that meet the criteria under 1-46 Subsection (b); 1-47 (2) based on data reported by districts, annually 1-48 designate as a Character Plus School each school that provides a 1-49 character education program that: 1-50 (A) meets the criteria prescribed by Subsection 1-51 (b); and 1-52 (B) is approved by the committee selected under 1-53 Subsection (c); and 1-54 (3) include in the report required under Section 1-55 39.182: 1-56 (A) based on data reported by districts, the 1-57 impact of character education programs on student discipline and 1-58 academic achievement; and 1-59 (B) other reported data relating to character 1-60 education programs the agency considers appropriate for inclusion. 1-61 (f) The agency may accept money from federal government and 1-62 private sources to use in assisting school districts in 1-63 implementing character education programs that meet the criteria 1-64 prescribed by Subsection (b). 2-1 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 2-2 school year. 2-3 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-4 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-5 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-6 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-7 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 2-8 * * * * *