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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring fine arts as part of the foundation |
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curriculum for public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 28.002(a) and (n), Education Code, are |
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amended to 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, United |
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States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on |
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the free enterprise system and its benefits, and geography; and |
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(E) fine arts; 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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(E) [(F)] technology applications; |
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(F) [(G)] religious literature, including the |
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Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact |
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on history and literature; and |
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(G) [(H)] personal financial literacy. |
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(n) The State Board of Education may by rule develop and |
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implement a plan designed to incorporate foundation curriculum |
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requirements into the career and technology education curriculum |
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under Subsection (a)(2)(D) [(a)(2)(E)]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.003(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) In this section, "educational program" means a course or |
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series of courses in the required curriculum under Section 28.002, |
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other than a fine arts course under Section 28.002(a)(1)(E) |
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[28.002(a)(2)(D)] or a career and technology course under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(D) [28.002(a)(2)(E)]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as 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) three credits in social studies under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at |
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least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in |
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economics or personal financial literacy & economics, and one |
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credit in world geography or world history; |
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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) five elective credits; |
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(7) one credit in fine arts under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(E) [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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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2025. |