87R3045 GCB-D
By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 828
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring disability studies as part of the enrichment
curriculum for public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through
grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:
(1) a foundation curriculum that includes:
(A) English language arts;
(B) mathematics;
(C) science; and
(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United
States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on
the free enterprise system and its benefits, and geography; and
(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes:
(A) to the extent possible, languages other than
English;
(B) health, with emphasis on:
(i) physical health, including the
importance of proper nutrition and exercise;
(ii) mental health, including instruction
about mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage
emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and
responsible decision-making; and
(iii) suicide prevention, including
recognizing suicide-related risk factors and warning signs;
(C) physical education;
(D) fine arts;
(E) career and technology education;
(F) technology applications;
(G) religious literature, including the Hebrew
Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on
history and literature; [and]
(H) personal financial literacy; and
(I) disability studies.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.0022 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0022. DISABILITY STUDIES. (a) In this section,
"ableism" means discrimination in favor of able-bodied persons.
(b) The Texas essential knowledge and skills and, as
applicable, Section 28.025 shall include instruction in disability
studies in:
(1) social studies instruction in kindergarten
through grade eight; and
(2) one or more courses offered for high school
graduation.
(c) Each school district and each open-enrollment charter
school that offers a high school program shall provide an elective
course in disability studies that meets the requirements for a
one-half elective credit under Section 28.025, using materials
approved by the State Board of Education.
(d) The instruction in disability studies must include
information regarding:
(1) disability identity;
(2) disability culture;
(3) the social model of disability;
(4) the disability rights movement;
(5) past and present leaders in the field of
disability;
(6) federal and state law affecting persons with
disabilities;
(7) exerting self-determination;
(8) engaging in self-advocacy; and
(9) concepts and theories to combat ableism.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
school year.
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, 2021.