By: Bell of Kaufman H.B. No. 3211
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to civics instruction in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.4555 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.4555. CIVICS ACADEMIES. (a) The commissioner
shall develop and make available civics academies for teachers and
administrators.
(b) The commissioner shall determine to what grade levels
the civics academies apply. In making that determination, the
commissioner shall include grade levels for which the State Board
of Education makes significant revisions to the Texas essential
knowledge and skills under Section 28.0025.
(c) A civics academy developed under this section must
include training in at least:
(1) citizenship or civics and related social studies
knowledge and skills as adopted by the State Board of Education;
(2) guided classroom discussion of current events, as
appropriate for the grade level;
(3) simulations and models of governmental and
democratic processes;
(4) media literacy, including instruction in
verification of information and sources and the identification of
propaganda, as appropriate for the grade level; and
(5) strategies for incorporating civics instruction
into other subject areas.
(d) From funds appropriated for that purpose, a teacher who
attends a civics academy may receive a stipend in the amount
determined by the commissioner. A stipend received under this
subsection is not considered in determining whether a district is
paying the teacher the minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402.
(e) On request of the commissioner, regional education
service centers shall assist the commissioner and agency with
training and other activities relating to the development and
operation of civics academies. The commissioner may seek
additional assistance from other public and private providers.
(f) The commissioner is required to implement this section
only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that
purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money
specifically for that purpose, the commissioner may, but is not
required to, implement this section using other appropriations
available for that purpose.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 28.0025 and 28.0201 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0025. CIVICS CURRICULUM UPDATE. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Civic attitudes" means appreciating the
importance and responsibility of participation in civic life;
gaining values such as commitment to the United States' system of
government and appreciation for free speech and civil discourse;
and developing civic self-efficiency and understanding of
perspectives that differ from one's own.
(2) "Civic behaviors" means practicing civic habits,
including voting, engaging in deliberative discussions,
volunteering, attending public meetings, and other civic
activities.
(3) "Civic knowledge" means an understanding of the
history and heritage of civic life; the structure, functions, and
processes of civic institutions at all levels; founding-era
documents; geography and economics that affect public policy; and
the role of the citizen.
(4) "Civic skills" means the abilities necessary to
participate as an active and responsible citizen in a republic;
effectively engage in the civic life and civic institutions of
one's community, state, and nation; analyze text and determine the
reliability of sources; formulate and articulate reasoned
positions; and actively listen and engage in civil discourse.
(b) To ensure the students of Texas possess sufficient
knowledge of history to effectively engage in the civil discourse
of the republic and fulfill the requirements of Section 28.002(h),
the State Board of Education shall:
(1) for kindergarten through grade six, revise the
essential knowledge and skills for social studies to address
essential civic education, including civic knowledge, civic
skills, civic attitudes, and civic behaviors, and ensure sufficient
knowledge of history necessary to ensure proper context for the
understanding of civic knowledge, civic skills, civic attitudes,
and civic behaviors; and
(2) for grade seven through grade twelve, streamline
the essential knowledge and skills for social studies to enhance
civic knowledge, civic skills, civic attitudes, and civic
behaviors.
(c) The commissioner shall review prekindergarten
guidelines and incorporate revisions, if necessary, based on the
revisions to the essential knowledge and skills under this section.
(d) The State Board of Education shall adopt a recommended
reading list for kindergarten through grade twelve of
civics-focused texts that address the content of the social studies
essential knowledge and skills for each grade that can be used in
conjunction with teaching the English and Spanish language arts and
reading standards. The texts should, at a minimum:
(1) build background knowledge and vocabulary in
elementary grades; and
(2) provide a rich study in rhetoric, reasoning, and
argumentation in secondary grades.
(e) The agency shall make the reading list in Subsection (d)
available to every public school in the state.
(f) The commissioner shall review current research and
resources and provide proposed revisions to the applicable
essential knowledge and skills and a preliminary reading list as a
starting point for the State Board of Education's use in executing
its duties under Subsections (b) and (d).
(g) The State Board of Education shall adopt revisions under
this section on a timeline that allows the development of academies
under Section 21.4555 and compliance by public schools with Section
28.0201 by the timeline established in that section.
Sec. 28.0201. CIVICS INSTRUCTION. (a) Each school
district and open-enrollment charter school shall:
(1) integrate civics materials into its curriculum in
non-social studies courses, as appropriate; and
(2) ensure that each campus with grade levels
identified by the commissioner in Section 21.4555(b) has at least
one teacher and either a principal or a campus instructional leader
who has attended a civics academy developed under Section 21.4555.
(b) The agency shall provide assistance to school districts
and open-enrollment charter schools in complying with the
requirements under this section.
(c) Subsection (a) does not apply until school year
2024-2025. This subsection expires September 1, 2027.
(d) The commissioner may delay implementation of Subsection
(a) to a school year no later than school year 2026-2027, if the
revision of curriculum under Section 28.0025 or the availability of
civics academies does not occur at a pace that reasonably affords
public schools the ability to comply with Subsection (a). This
subsection expires September 1, 2027.
(e) Notwithstanding Subsections (c) and (d), the
commissioner may delay implementation of the requirement of
Subsection (a)(2) if, in accordance with Section 21.4555(f), civics
academies have not been developed or sufficiently developed to
allow school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to
comply with that requirement.
(f) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this
section.
SECTION 3. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c-9) to read as follows:
(c-9) An assessment instrument developed under Subsection
(a) or (c) may include excerpts from texts included on the
recommended reading list adopted under Section 28.0025(d).
SECTION 4. The Texas Education Agency is required to
implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the agency may, but is not required to, implement a
provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
purpose.
SECTION 5. 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, 2021.