S.B. No. 1063

AN ACT

relating to courses in personal financial literacy & economics for high school students in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsections (b-22) and (b-23) 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 or personal financial literacy & 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) 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).

(b-22) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State Board of Education shall ensure that a personal financial literacy & economics course taken to comply with the curriculum requirement under Subsection (b-1)(4) allocates:

(1) two-thirds of instruction time to instruction in personal financial literacy; and

(2) one-third of instruction time to instruction in economics.

(b-23) The agency shall:

(1) develop a list of free, open-source, and publicly available curricula that may be used by a school district to provide a personal financial literacy & economics course that satisfies the curriculum requirement under Subsection (b-1)(4); and

(2) seek, accept, and spend any federal or private grant funds and gifts that are available for the purpose of providing a personal financial literacy & economics course as part of the foundation high school program.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.

SECTION 3. 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.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1063 passed the Senate on April 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1063 passed the House on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 5, two present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

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Date

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Governor