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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requirements for courses in the core curriculum adopted |
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by public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.8221 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.8221. REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSES IN CORE CURRICULUM. |
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A course in an institution of higher education's core curriculum |
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adopted under Section 61.822(b): |
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(1) may not: |
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(A) distort a significant historical event; |
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(B) include an aspect that teaches identity |
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politics; or |
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(C) be based on a theory that systemic racism, |
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sexism, oppression, or privilege is inherent in the institutions of |
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the United States or this state or was created to maintain social, |
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political, or economic inequities; and |
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(2) must impart: |
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(A) for a communication course, the ability to |
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communicate effectively, including the ability to write clearly and |
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engage in public speaking; |
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(B) for a mathematics course, an understanding of |
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key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate |
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quantitative tools to everyday experience; |
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(C) for a life and physical science course, the |
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ability to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the |
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scientific method and an understanding of biology, life sciences, |
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anatomy, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, or computer |
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sciences; |
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(D) for a language course, an ability to speak, |
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read, and write in a foreign language; |
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(E) for a literature or philosophy course, an |
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understanding of the literary or philosophical development of |
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Western civilization; |
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(F) for an arts course, an appreciation of and |
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ability to analyze visual arts, performing arts, music, or film; |
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(G) for a United States history course, a broad |
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understanding of the history of the United States and of this state; |
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(H) for a United States government course, an |
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understanding of civics, including principles of the founding of |
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the United States, such as natural rights, liberty, equality, |
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democracy, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, |
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constitutional self-government, and the structure, function, and |
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roles of state and local governments; and |
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(I) for a behavioral and social science course, |
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an understanding of concepts and principles used in the analysis of |
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human behavior and of past and present social, political, and |
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economic issues. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.8221, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic 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, 2025. |