| 1 | 1 | | By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 153 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | relating to the inclusion of instruction regarding culturally |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | inclusive curriculum reflecting the cultural, linguistic and |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | religious diversity of society. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Cultural Inclusion |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | Act. |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Sec. 28.021 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 28.021. INSTRUCTION REGARDING CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | CURRICULUM. |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (a) In this section: |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (1) "Board" means the State Board of Education |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | (2) "Agency" means the Texas Education Agency. |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (b) The board, agency, and stakeholders shall enter into a |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | memorandum of understanding that establishes the respective |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | responsibilities in developing instruction, including curriculum |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | and instructional modules, on culturally inclusive curriculum |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | reflecting the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | society. The instruction must include information regarding: |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (1) Fostering each child's sense of self-identity; |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (2) Fostering acceptance of diversity among people by |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | allowing children to ask about and explore the differences; |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | (3) Encouraging critical thinking about bias by |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | helping children to identify acts of discrimination and stereotypic |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | images in their world; |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (4) Encouraging empathy towards others; and |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (5) Fostering each child's ability to stand up for |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | themselves and others in the face of bias. |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | (c) In developing the instruction under this section, the |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | board and the agency may consult with any interested party, |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | including a volunteer work group convened for the purpose of making |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | recommendations regarding the instruction. |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (d) Before finalizing any instruction under this section, |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | the board and the agency shall provide a reasonable period for |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | public comment. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (e) Subject to rules adopted by the board, a school district |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | or open-enrollment charter school may tailor the instruction |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | developed under this section as appropriate for the district's or |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | school 's community. In tailoring the instruction, the district or |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | school shall solicit input from local law enforcement agencies, |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | interested stakeholders, and the community. |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
|---|