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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to public school curriculum and textbooks. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002(h), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(h) The State Board of Education and each school district |
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shall foster the continuation of the tradition of teaching United |
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States and Texas history and the free enterprise system in regular |
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subject matter and in reading courses and in the adoption of |
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textbooks. A primary purpose of the public school curriculum is to |
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prepare thoughtful, active citizens who understand the importance |
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of patriotism and can function productively in a free enterprise |
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society with appreciation for the basic democratic values of our |
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state and national heritage. In meeting that primary purpose, the |
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SBOE and each school district shall ensure that: |
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(1) the public school curriculum reflects the |
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importance of patriotism, United States citizenship, and promotes |
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an appreciation for our free enterprise system and basic democratic |
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values; |
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(2) each historical event addressed in the public |
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school curriculum meets a reasonable test of historical |
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significance, considering the limited amount of time available for |
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instruction; |
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(3) each controversial issue addressed in the public |
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school curriculum is presented in a balanced manner that reflects |
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multiple viewpoints regarding the issue; |
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(4) the public school curriculum reflects an overall |
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tone that portrays the United States as a country that has overcome |
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its mistakes and has emerged as the freest, most democratic nation |
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in the history of the world; |
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(5) the public school curriculum shall include the |
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concept of American Exceptionalism and the Celebrate Freedom Week |
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program; |
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(6) School district generated and purchased |
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curriculum, including Advanced Placement and International |
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Baccalaureate social studies, must be in compliance with Texas |
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Essential Knowledge and Skills. |
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SECTION 2. Section 31.023(a), Education Code, is to read |
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amended as follows: |
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(a) For each subject and grade level, the State Board of |
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Education shall adopt a list of instructional materials. The list |
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includes each instructional material submitted for the subject and |
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grade level that meets applicable physical specifications adopted |
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by the State Board of Education and contains material covering at |
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least half of the elements of the essential knowledge and skills of |
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the subject and grade level in the student version of the |
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instructional material, as well as in the teacher version of the |
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instructional material, as determined by the State Board of |
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Education under Section 28.002, is consistent with the requirements |
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applicable to curriculum under Section 28.002(h), and adopted under |
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Section 31.024. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. |
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(b) Section 31.023(a), Education Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies only to textbooks adopted by the State Board of |
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Education on or after September 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 4. If this act passes both house and senate, it |
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takes effect September 1, 2015. |