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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to global and cultural studies instruction and mandatory |
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graduation requirements in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The legislature finds that comprehensive |
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curriculum positively impacts student achievement and allows for |
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long-term improvement in the overall operation, cooperation, and |
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productivity of the state. National studies have proven that there |
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are high social and educational benefits associated with |
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understanding divergent cultures, history, and perspectives. |
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(b) The purpose of this Act is to provide public school |
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students with a more comprehensive academic curriculum, while |
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proactively expanding student perspectives and cultural |
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competency. The state shall facilitate the comprehensive academic |
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curriculum through intentional curriculum planning and through |
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core credit reallocation. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through |
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grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum: |
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(1) a foundation curriculum that includes: |
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(A) English language arts; |
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(B) mathematics; |
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(C) science; and |
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(D) social studies, consisting of Texas and [,] |
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United States [, and world] history, government, economics, with |
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emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits, global |
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studies, cultural studies, and geography; and |
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(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes: |
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(A) to the extent possible, languages other than |
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English; |
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(B) health, with emphasis on: |
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(i) physical health, including the |
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importance of proper nutrition and exercise; |
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(ii) mental health, including instruction |
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about mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage |
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emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and |
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responsible decision-making; and |
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(iii) suicide prevention, including |
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recognizing suicide-related risk factors and warning signs; |
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(C) physical education; |
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(D) fine arts; |
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(E) career and technology education; |
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(F) technology applications; |
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(G) religious literature, including the Hebrew |
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Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on |
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history and literature; and |
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(H) personal financial literacy. |
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SECTION 3. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsection (j) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require |
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that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school |
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program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students |
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successfully complete: |
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(1) four credits in English language arts under |
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Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one |
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credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in |
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an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(2) three credits in mathematics under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in |
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geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course |
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authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(3) three credits in science under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any |
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advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one |
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credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional |
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advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(4) four [three] credits in social studies under |
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Section 28.002(a)(1)(D), including: |
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(A) one credit in United States history; [,] |
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(B) at least one-half credit in government; |
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(C) [and] at least one-half credit in economics; |
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(D) [, and] one credit in global studies, |
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including: |
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(i) world geography; [or] |
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(ii) world history; or |
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(iii) an equivalent advanced placement or |
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international baccalaureate world history or world geography |
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course that does not count toward another credit required for |
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graduation; and |
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(E) one credit in cultural studies, including: |
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(i) African American history from 1619 to |
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present; |
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(ii) Asian American history; |
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(iii) Hispanic/Mexican American history; |
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(iv) Indigenous history; |
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(v) teachings of other persons or groups |
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who participated in large-scale immigration into the United States; |
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(vi) history of women and gender studies; |
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and |
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(vii) a comprehensive history course |
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addressing a combination of studies within the cultural studies |
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course options listed in Subparagraphs (i)-(vi); |
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(5) except as provided under Subsections (b-12), |
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(b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language |
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other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A); |
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(6) four [five] elective credits; |
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(7) one credit in fine arts under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(D); and |
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(8) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one |
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credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C). |
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(j) A school district shall provide at least two courses |
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that meet the requirements for a cultural studies course under |
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Subsection (b-1)(4)(E). |
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SECTION 4. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as amended |
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by this Act, applies only to students entering the ninth grade |
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during the 2022-2023 school year or a later school year. For |
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students entering a grade above ninth grade during the 2022-2023 |
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school year, Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as that |
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subsection existed before amendment by this Act, applies, and that |
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subsection is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |