85R3423 MK-D
By: Leach H.B. No. 617
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the inclusion of American principles in the public
school curriculum and instructional materials.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (h-1) to read as follows:
(h-1) To accomplish the primary purpose stated in
Subsection (h), the State Board of Education and each school
district shall ensure that:
(1) the public school curriculum emphasizes:
(A) the importance of patriotism, American
exceptionalism, United States citizenship, basic democratic
values, character development, the moral fabric of American civil
society, and an appreciation for the free enterprise system; and
(B) an understanding of the principles
underlying the United States form of government, including the
study of the Founding Fathers of the United States, the Declaration
of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of
Rights, and the Federalist Papers;
(2) each historical event addressed in the public
school curriculum meets a reasonable standard of historical
significance, in relation to the limited amount of available
instructional time;
(3) any issue included in the public school curriculum
that is considered controversial is presented in a balanced manner
that includes multiple viewpoints regarding the issue;
(4) the public school curriculum includes the
Celebrate Freedom Week program developed under Section 29.907; and
(5) any curriculum generated, purchased, or otherwise
obtained by a district, including dual credit, advanced placement,
and international baccalaureate social studies courses, is in
compliance with the appropriate essential knowledge and skills
requirements adopted under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 31.023(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) For each subject and grade level, the State Board of
Education shall adopt a list of instructional materials. The list
includes each instructional material submitted for the subject and
grade level that meets applicable physical specifications adopted
by the State Board of Education, that [and] contains material that
is consistent with the purpose and guidelines of Sections 28.002(h)
and (h-1), and that covers [covering] at least half of the elements
of the essential knowledge and skills of the subject and grade level
in the student version of the instructional material, as well as in
the teacher version of the instructional material, as determined by
the State Board of Education under Section 28.002 and adopted under
Section 31.024.
SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), this
Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
(b) The changes in law made by this Act to Section
31.023(a), Education Code, apply to instructional materials
adopted by the State Board of Education on or after September 1,
2018.
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, 2017.