| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to requiring cultural inclusion curriculum as part of the |
|
|
enrichment curriculum for public schools. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through |
|
|
grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum: |
|
|
(1) a foundation curriculum that includes: |
|
|
(A) English language arts; |
|
|
(B) mathematics; |
|
|
(C) science; and |
|
|
(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United |
|
|
States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on |
|
|
the free enterprise system and its benefits, and geography; and |
|
|
(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes: |
|
|
(A) to the extent possible, languages other than |
|
|
English; |
|
|
(B) health, with emphasis on: |
|
|
(i) physical health, including the |
|
|
importance of proper nutrition and exercise; |
|
|
(ii) mental health, including instruction |
|
|
about mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage |
|
|
emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and |
|
|
responsible decision-making; and |
|
|
(iii) suicide prevention, including |
|
|
recognizing suicide-related risk factors and warning signs; |
|
|
(C) physical education; |
|
|
(D) fine arts; |
|
|
(E) career and technology education; |
|
|
(F) technology applications; |
|
|
(G) religious literature, including the Hebrew |
|
|
Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on |
|
|
history and literature; [and] |
|
|
(H) personal financial literacy; and |
|
|
(I) cultural inclusion. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 28.0029 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 28.0029. CULTURAL INCLUSION CURRICULUM. (a) The State |
|
|
Board of Education shall develop curriculum on cultural inclusivity |
|
|
that a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall use |
|
|
in the district's or school's cultural inclusivity courses. |
|
|
(b) The curriculum must encourage: |
|
|
(1) a student's sense of self; |
|
|
(2) an acceptance of diversity through the |
|
|
identification and exploration of differences; |
|
|
(3) critical thinking about bias through the |
|
|
identification and exploration of discrimination and stereotypes; |
|
|
(4) empathy toward others; and |
|
|
(5) advocating for oneself in the face of bias. |
|
|
(c) In developing the curriculum under this section, the |
|
|
State Board of Education shall consult with the agency and |
|
|
appropriate stakeholders and may create a work group of volunteers |
|
|
to make recommendations regarding the curriculum. |
|
|
(d) The State Board of Education, the agency, and |
|
|
appropriate stakeholders shall enter into a memorandum of |
|
|
understanding that establishes each entity's respective |
|
|
responsibilities in developing cultural inclusion curriculum that |
|
|
reflects the cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity of |
|
|
society. |
|
|
(e) Before finalizing the curriculum developed under this |
|
|
section, the State Board of Education shall provide a reasonable |
|
|
period for public comment. |
|
|
(f) Subject to rules adopted by the State Board of |
|
|
Education, a school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
|
|
tailor the curriculum developed under this section as appropriate |
|
|
for the district's or school's community. In tailoring the |
|
|
instruction, the district or school shall solicit input from the |
|
|
State Board of Education, the agency, community members, and other |
|
|
interested individuals or organizations. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
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, 2023. |