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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an elective course in ethnic studies for middle school, |
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junior high school, and high school students. |
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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 28.0111 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0111. ELECTIVE COURSE IN ETHNIC STUDIES. (a) In |
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this section, "advisory committee" means the ethnic studies |
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advisory committee. |
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(b) A school district shall offer an elective course in |
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ethnic studies to students in middle school, junior high school, |
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and high school. The course provided to high school students must |
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meet the requirements for a one-half elective credit under Section |
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28.025. |
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(c) The commissioner shall create an ethnic studies |
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advisory committee that consists of ten to fifteen members serving |
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a term of two years, including at least one representative from the |
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following: |
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(1) a middle school teacher with experience in ethnic |
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studies; |
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(2) a high school teacher with experience in ethnic |
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studies; |
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(3) a professor from a Texas public institution of |
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higher education who specializes in ethnic studies; |
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(4) a professor from a Texas private institution of |
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higher education who specializes in ethnic studies; |
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(5) a professor from a Texas Community College who |
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specializes in ethnic studies; |
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(6) a member of a community based organization who is |
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an expert in the field of ethnic studies; |
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(7) a member of a professional association relating to |
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ethnic studies; and |
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(8) a parent of a middle or high school student with |
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demonstrated interest in ethnic studies. |
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(d) A member of the advisory committee serves at the will of |
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the commissioner. |
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(e) The advisory committee shall prepare and periodically |
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update model curricula for ethnic studies courses for review and |
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consideration by the State Board of Education. The model curricula |
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for ethnic studies courses must provide: |
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(1) proposed grade-level appropriate instruction for |
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students in middle school, junior high school, or high school; |
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(2) recommended resources and educational materials |
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for ethnic studies courses; and |
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(3) proposed training for teachers of ethnic studies. |
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(f) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the advisory committee shall prepare a report addressing ethnic |
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studies courses taught in this state for middle school, junior high |
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school, and high school students. The report must: |
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(1) review and evaluate ethnic studies courses offered |
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in the state; |
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(2) address the use of ethnic studies model curricula |
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developed by the advisory committee; |
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(3) provide best practices for ethnic studies courses; |
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(4) provide areas of improvement for ethnic studies |
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courses; and |
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(5) evaluate current educational research on ethnic |
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studies courses. |
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(g) The advisory committee shall provide the proposed model |
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curricula and report to the: |
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(1) governor; |
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(2) lieutenant governor; |
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(3) speaker of the house of representatives; |
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(4) appropriate committees of the senate and house of |
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representatives; and |
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(5) State Board of Education. |
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SECTION 2. A school district shall provide the elective |
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course required by Section 28.0111, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, beginning with the 2018-2019 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, 2017. |