Honorable Dan Huberty, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1291 by Geren (Relating to the inclusion of American principles in the public school curriculum and instructional materials.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1291, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($674,612) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2018
($674,612)
2019
$0
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2018
($674,612)
2019
$0
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Education Code to require the State Board of Education (SBOE) and each school district to ensure that the public school curriculum and instructional materials emphasize an understanding of the principles underlying the United States form of government, that each historical event addressed in the curriculum meets a reasonable standard of historical significance, and that any issue considered controversial is presented in a balanced manner. The bill would require that any curriculum generated, purchased, or obtained by a district is in compliance with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements provided in the legislation.
The bill would take effect immediately if passed within the necessary voting margins, or on September 1, 2017, and would apply beginning in school year 2017-18. Provisions of the bill related to instructional materials adoption by the SBOE would take effect on or after September 1, 2018.
Methodology
Reviewing and modifying the social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards to ensure the elements required by the provisions of this bill are addressed would cost an estimated $674,612 in fiscal year 2018. This estimate assumes the Texas Education Agency (TEA) would incur all costs associated with the review and modification of the TEKS standards and instructional materials in the 2018-19 biennium due to the September 1, 2017 implementation date. In addition to these costs, there would be additional costs related to revising instructional materials if the provisions required in the bill are not currently addressed in the TEKS. The costs related to revising instructional materials cannot be determined at this time since those costs would depend on the amount and complexity of the changes to the TEKS standards.
According to information provided by TEA, the agency would convene committees to review and modify the social studies TEKS in fiscal year 2018. Based on information provided by TEA, a committee would meet for two days to review the TEKS standards and make any recommendations for adjustments. Committee membership would total 76 members. The estimated cost of travel reimbursement, including lodging, meals and incidentals, and mileage, would be $791 per committee member, totaling approximately $120,232 in fiscal year 2018 ($791 per person x 76 committee members x 2 meetings). Cost related to meeting space and materials would total $3,400, resulting in a total cost of $123,632 in fiscal year 2018 for the committee meetings.
According to information provided by TEA, the agency would also convene committees to review currently adopted social studies instructional materials for compliance with the provisions of the bill. TEA anticipates that 39 elementary school products and 50 secondary school products would be reviewed. The agency estimates 38 review panels consisting of five people in each panel would be required for this review. Based on the number of review panels and committee members, this estimate assumes a cost of approximately $269,990 per meeting for travel reimbursement, including lodging, meals and incidentals, and mileage. ($1,421 per person x 190 committee members). Costs related to meeting space and materials would total $11,000, resulting in a total cost of $550,980 in fiscal year 2018 for the two instructional material review committee meetings.
Local Government Impact
School districts and charter would likely incur significant cost if the State Board of Education (SBOE) were to amend the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to align with the provisions of the bills. Costs for school districts and charters to review their existing curriculum to ensure it meets the requirements of this legislation would vary from district to district. There may be costs to local school districts to purchase or develop curriculum programs that meet the requirements of this legislation if the district does not already have that curriculum. If the TEKS are changed, school districts could be required to purchase new curriculum or instructional materials. Costs would vary among districts and could be significant.