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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the foundation curriculum and social studies curriculum |
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in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (h-1), (h-2), and (h-6) and adding Subsection |
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(h-3) to read as follows: |
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(h-1) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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foundation curriculum under Subsection (a)(1), the State Board of |
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Education shall, as appropriate, adopt essential knowledge and |
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skills that develop each student's civic knowledge, including an |
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understanding of: |
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(1) the fundamental moral, political, and |
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intellectual foundations of the American experiment in |
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self-government; |
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(2) political ideologies, such as communism and |
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totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and |
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democracy essential to the founding principles of the United |
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States; |
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(3) the student's shared rights and responsibilities |
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as a resident of this state; |
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(4) the history, qualities, traditions, and features |
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of civic engagement in the United States; |
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(5) [(3)] the structure, function, and processes of |
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government institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; |
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and |
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(6) [(4)] the founding documents of the United States, |
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including: |
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(A) the entirety of the Declaration of |
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Independence; |
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(B) the entirety of the United States |
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Constitution; |
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(C) the Federalist Papers, including the |
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entirety of Essays 10 and 51; |
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(D) excerpts from Alexis de Tocqueville's |
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Democracy in America; |
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(E) the transcript of the first Lincoln-Douglas |
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debate; |
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(F) the writings of the founding fathers of the |
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United States; |
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(G) the entirety of Frederick Douglass's |
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speeches "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" and "What the |
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Black Man Wants"; and |
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(H) the entirety of Martin Luther King Jr.'s |
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speech "I Have a Dream." |
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(h-2) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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social studies curriculum for each grade level from kindergarten |
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through grade 12, the State Board of Education shall adopt |
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essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic |
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knowledge, including: |
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(1) an understanding of: |
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(A) the fundamental moral, political, |
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entrepreneurial, and intellectual foundations of the American |
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experiment in self-government; |
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(B) the history, qualities, traditions, and |
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features of civic engagement in the United States; |
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(C) the civic-minded expectations of an upright |
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and desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility |
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for preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited |
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from prior generations and secured by the United States |
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Constitution; |
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(D) the structure, function, and processes of |
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government institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; |
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and |
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(E) [(D)] the founding documents of the United |
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States; |
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(2) the ability to: |
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(A) analyze and determine the reliability of |
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information sources; |
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(B) formulate and articulate reasoned positions; |
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(C) understand the manner in which local, state, |
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and federal government works and operates through the use of |
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simulations and models of governmental and democratic processes; |
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(D) advocate effectively before governing bodies |
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and officials; |
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(E) actively listen and engage in civil |
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discourse, including discourse with those with different |
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viewpoints; and |
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(F) [(E)] participate as a citizen in a |
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constitutional democracy by voting; and |
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(3) an appreciation of: |
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(A) the importance and responsibility of |
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participating in civic life; |
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(B) a commitment to the United States and its |
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form of government; and |
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(C) a commitment to free speech and civil |
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discourse. |
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(h-3) The State Board of Education shall adopt oral history |
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resources to be used by school districts in instruction in the |
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essential knowledge and skills adopted under Subsections (h-1) and |
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(h-2) that provide portraits in patriotism based on the personal |
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stories of diverse individuals who demonstrate civic-minded |
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qualities, including first-person accounts of victims of other |
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nations' governing philosophies who can compare those philosophies |
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with the governing philosophies of the United States. |
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(h-6) In providing instruction regarding the founding |
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documents of the United States as described by Subsection (h-1)(6) |
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[(h-1)(4)], a school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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shall use those documents as part of the instructional materials |
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for the instruction. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |