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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the teaching of science 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 A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0027 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0027. STUDY OF SCIENCE. (a) As part of the |
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essential knowledge and skills of the science curriculum under |
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Section 28.002(a)(1)(C), the State Board of Education by rule shall |
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establish elements relating to instruction on the scientific |
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hypotheses and theories for grades 6-12. |
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(b) Instructional elements for scientific processes: the |
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student uses critical thinking and scientific problem solving to |
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make informed decisions. The student is expected to analyze, |
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review, and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses |
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and theories, as to their strengths and weaknesses using scientific |
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evidence and information; |
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(c) Students may be evaluated based upon their |
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understanding of course materials, but no student in any public |
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school or institution shall be penalized in any way because he or |
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she subscribes to a particular position on scientific theories or |
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hypotheses; |
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(d) No governmental entity shall prohibit any teacher in a |
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public school system of this state from helping students to |
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understand, analyze, review, and critique scientific explanations, |
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including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and |
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weaknesses using scientific evidence and information. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all 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, 2009. |