81R3337 JRJ-D

By: McClendon H.B. No. 1281

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the inclusion in the foundation curriculum for public schools of instruction in certain skills development to prepare students for adult responsibility.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:

(1) a foundation curriculum that includes:

(A) English language arts;

(B) mathematics;

(C) science; [and]

(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United States, and world history, government, and geography; and

(E) adult responsibility education; and

(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes:

(A) to the extent possible, languages other than English;

(B) health, with emphasis on the importance of proper nutrition and exercise;

(C) physical education;

(D) fine arts;

(E) economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits;

(F) career and technology education;

(G) technology applications; and

(H) religious literature, including the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on history and literature.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.0024 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.0024. ADVISORY PANEL REQUIRED TO DEVELOP CURRICULUM FOR ADULT RESPONSIBILITY. (a) Not later than January 1, 2010, the agency shall establish an advisory panel under this section to develop the required foundation curriculum to teach students skills in social, emotional, and behavioral interaction to prepare students for adult responsibility. A primary purpose of the adult responsibility curriculum is to teach students advanced methods of thinking, speaking, learning, and reasoning, including methods for:

(1) effective, nonviolent communication;

(2) problem solving;

(3) setting appropriate boundaries and priorities; and

(4) creative decision making.

(b) The commissioner shall appoint members to the advisory panel after consulting with the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs of standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over public education. The advisory panel shall consist of nine members as follows:

(1) three members who have professional or practical expertise or experience in social and emotional development and education;

(2) three members who are active educators; and

(3) three members who are business representatives or members of the community.

(c) The appointed members of the advisory panel serve staggered three-year terms. The commissioner shall appoint the initial members to a three-year term. Following the initial term, the commissioner shall appoint the members to terms of one, two, or three years as necessary so that one-third of the appointed advisory panel members' terms expire each year.

(d) The commissioner shall designate one member of the advisory panel as the presiding officer.

(e) A member of the advisory panel serves on a voluntary basis without compensation.

(f) The advisory panel may begin meeting after the commissioner appoints at least five members to the panel.

(g) Not later than January 1, 2011, the advisory panel shall develop the curriculum as required by this section and report to the commissioner and the legislature as provided by this subsection. The report must include recommendations regarding:

(1) whether the adult responsibility curriculum should be incorporated into existing classes or provided in separate classes before, during, or after the school day;

(2) the professional requirements for educators who provide adult responsibility curriculum instruction;

(3) appropriate testing practices for measuring student progress in the adult responsibility curriculum; and

(4) other considerations as determined appropriate by the advisory panel.

(h) The commissioner shall report the recommendations provided under Subsection (g) to the State Board of Education.

(i) Not later than September 1, 2011, the State Board of Education by rule shall revise the essential knowledge and skills as provided by Section 28.002(c) to include the adult responsibility curriculum developed under this section based on the recommendations of the advisory panel under Subsection (g). The State Board of Education shall require school districts to provide instruction in the adult responsibility curriculum for:

(1) kindergarten through grade five beginning with the 2012-2013 school year;

(2) grade six through grade eight beginning with the 2014-2015 school year; and

(3) grade nine through grade 12 beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.

(j) The advisory panel shall deliver a biennial report to the commissioner and the legislature that:

(1) assesses the state's progress in meeting the goals stated in the curriculum plans developed under this section; and

(2) recommends legislative action to assist the state in meeting those goals.

(k) This section expires September 1, 2018.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.