87R2589 MEW-D
 
  By: Goodwin H.B. No. 437
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to personal financial literacy courses for high school
  students in public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28.0021(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Each school district and each open-enrollment charter
  school that offers a high school program shall provide a [an
  elective] course in personal financial literacy that meets the
  requirements for [a one-half elective] credit under Section 28.025,
  using materials approved by the State Board of Education.  The
  instruction in personal financial literacy must include
  instruction on completing the application for federal student aid
  provided by the United States Department of Education.  In
  fulfilling the requirement to provide financial literacy
  instruction under this section, a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school may use an existing state, federal,
  private, or nonprofit program that provides students without charge
  the instruction described under this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b-1)  The State Board of Education by rule shall require
  that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school
  program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students
  successfully complete:
               (1)  four credits in English language arts under
  Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one
  credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in
  an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (2)  three credits in mathematics under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in
  geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course
  authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (3)  three credits in science under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one
  credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (4)  three credits in social studies under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at
  least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in 
  economics, and one credit in world geography or world history;
               (5)  except as provided under Subsections (b-12),
  (b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language
  other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A);
               (6)  four and one-half [five] elective credits;
               (7)  one credit in fine arts under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(D); [and]
               (8)  except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one
  credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C); and
               (9)  at least one-half credit in personal financial
  literacy under Section 28.0021.
         SECTION 3.  Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as amended
  by this Act, applies only to students entering the ninth grade
  during the 2021-2022 school year or a later school year. For
  students entering a grade above ninth grade during the 2021-2022
  school year, Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as that section
  existed before amendment by this Act, applies, and that section is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.