By: Creighton, et al. S.B. No. 2202
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the social studies curriculum in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (h-2), (h-3), and (h-4) to read as follows:
(h-2) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the
social studies curriculum, the State Board of Education shall adopt
essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic
knowledge, including an understanding of:
(1) the fundamental moral, political, and
intellectual foundations of the American experiment in
self-government;
(2) the history, qualities, traditions, and features
of civic engagement in the United States;
(3) the structure, function, and processes of
government institutions at the federal, state, and local levels;
and
(4) the founding documents of the United States,
including:
(A) the Declaration of Independence;
(B) the United States Constitution;
(C) the Federalist Papers, including Essays 10
and 51;
(D) excerpts from Alexis de Tocqueville's
Democracy in America;
(E) the transcript of the first Lincoln-Douglas
debate; and
(F) the writings of the founding fathers of the
United States.
(h-3) For courses in the social studies curriculum in Texas
history, United States history, world history, government, civics,
social studies, or other similar subjects:
(1) a teacher may not be compelled to discuss current
events or widely debated and currently controversial issues of
public policy or social affairs;
(2) a teacher who chooses to discuss topics described
by Subdivision (1) shall, to the best of the teacher's ability,
strive to explore those topics from diverse and contending
perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective;
(3) a school district, open-enrollment charter
school, or teacher may not require, make part of a course, or award
a grade or course credit, including extra credit, for a student's:
(A) work for, affiliation with, or service
learning in association with any organization engaged in:
(i) lobbying for legislation at the
federal, state, or local level; or
(ii) social or public policy advocacy;
(B) political activism, lobbying, or efforts to
persuade members of the legislative or executive branch at the
federal, state, or local level to take specific actions by direct
communication; or
(C) participation in any practicum or similar
activity involving social or public policy advocacy; and
(4) a teacher, administrator, or other employee of a
state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school
may not:
(A) be required to engage in training,
orientation, or therapy that presents any form of race or sex
stereotyping or blame on the basis of race or sex; and
(B) require or make part of a course the concept
that:
(i) one race or sex is inherently superior
to another race or sex;
(ii) an individual, by virtue of the
individual's race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or
oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;
(iii) an individual should be discriminated
against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of
the individual's race or sex;
(iv) members of one race or sex cannot and
should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;
(v) an individual's moral character is
necessarily determined by the individual's race or sex;
(vi) an individual, by virtue of the
individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions
committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;
(vii) an individual should feel discomfort,
guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on
account of the individual's race or sex; or
(viii) meritocracy or traits such as a hard
work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a
particular race to oppress members of another race.
(h-4) A state agency, school district, or open-enrollment
charter school may not accept private funding for the purpose of
developing a curriculum, purchasing or selecting curriculum
materials, or providing teacher training or professional
development for a course described by Subsection (h-3).
SECTION 2. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 school
year.
(b) Section 28.002(h-2), Education Code, as added by this
Act, applies beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 31, 2022, the State Board
of Education shall review and revise, as needed, the essential
knowledge and skills of the social studies curriculum as required
by Section 28.002(h-2), Education Code, as added by this Act.
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.