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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to elective courses in ethnic studies for middle school |
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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 COURSES IN ETHNIC STUDIES. (a) A |
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school district may offer to middle and high school students one or |
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more English language arts or social studies elective courses in |
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ethnic studies that comply with curriculum standards adopted under |
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Subsection (b) or (c). |
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(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt separate |
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content-based curriculum standards for each of the following ethnic |
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studies courses: |
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(1) Mexican American studies; |
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(2) African American studies; |
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(3) Native American studies; and |
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(4) Asian American studies. |
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(c) The State Board of Education may adopt separate |
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content-based curriculum standards for additional ethnic studies |
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courses not specified in Subsection (b). |
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(d) The curriculum standards must: |
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(1) include: |
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(A) key historical figures, events, and dates; |
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and |
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(B) information regarding the ethnic group's |
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contributions to society; and |
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(2) be reviewed by academic experts with knowledge in |
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the relevant ethnic studies field before final adoption by the |
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State Board of Education. |
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SECTION 2. The State Board of Education shall adopt |
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curriculum standards for ethnic studies courses as required by |
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Section 28.0111, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later |
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than the date that permits school districts to offer ethnic studies |
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courses that comply with the curriculum standards beginning with |
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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. |