Texas Senate Bill SB1777

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the United States history end-of-course assessment instrument for public high school students.

Impact

The bill's implementation is designed to elevate the civic education of students by incorporating questions that reflect important aspects of U.S. history and governance. This requirement will not only enhance the curricular standards but also align assessments more closely with civic knowledge that is vital for informed citizenship. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that relevant performance data associated with these questions will be reported annually, facilitating transparency and evaluation of students' grasp of the subject matter.

Summary

SB1777 introduces amendments to the Texas Education Code regarding the end-of-course assessment for high school students in the subject of United States history. The bill mandates that beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the assessment must include 10 questions selected from the civics test used during the naturalization process administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. This inclusion aims to ensure that high school graduates possess a foundational understanding of U.S. history and civics.

Contention

There could be points of contention surrounding the bill, particularly in regards to the nature and selection of questions from the civics test. Critics may argue that emphasizing a standardized test derived from the immigration process may over-simplify complex historical events and concepts, potentially leading to a narrow interpretation of U.S. history. Supporters, however, may argue that this aligns educational standards with responsibilities of citizenship, thereby reinforcing the importance of civic knowledge in the educational curriculum.