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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the required curriculum for public school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (x), (y), and (z) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through |
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grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum: |
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(1) a foundation curriculum that includes: |
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(A) English language arts; |
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(B) mathematics; |
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(C) science; and |
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(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United |
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States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on |
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the free enterprise system and its benefits, [and] geography, and |
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constitutional law, with emphasis on case law; and |
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(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes: |
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(A) to the extent possible, languages other than |
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English; |
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(B) health, with emphasis on the importance of |
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proper nutrition and exercise; |
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(C) physical education; |
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(D) fine arts; |
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(E) career and technology education; |
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(F) technology applications; |
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(G) religious literature, including the Hebrew |
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Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on |
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history and literature; [and] |
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(H) personal financial literacy; |
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(I) capitalism, including entrepreneurship and |
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free market principles; and |
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(J) Western civilization, including ethics. |
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(x) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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social studies curriculum under Subsection (a)(1)(D), the State |
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Board of Education shall adopt essential knowledge and skills that |
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encourage character building, including developing and improving |
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the positive character traits listed in Section 29.906(b). |
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(y) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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capitalism curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(I), the State Board |
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of Education shall consult with entrepreneurs and other experts on |
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capitalism and free market principles. |
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(z) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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Western civilization curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(J), the |
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State Board of Education shall: |
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(1) adopt essential knowledge and skills that |
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encourage character building, including developing and improving |
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the positive character traits listed in Section 29.906(b); and |
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(2) consult with experts on Western civilization, |
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including experts on ethics. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2016-2017 |
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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 the 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, 2015. |