By: Bucy H.B. No. 51
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring fine arts as part of the foundation
curriculum for public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 28.002(a) and (n), Education Code, are
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
(E) fine arts; 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;
(E) [(F)] technology applications;
(F) [(G)] religious literature, including the
Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact
on history and literature; and
(G) [(H)] personal financial literacy.
(n) The State Board of Education may by rule develop and
implement a plan designed to incorporate foundation curriculum
requirements into the career and technology education curriculum
under Subsection (a)(2)(D) [(a)(2)(E)].
SECTION 2. Section 28.003(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) In this section, "educational program" means a course or
series of courses in the required curriculum under Section 28.002,
other than a fine arts course under Section 28.002(a)(1)(E)
[28.002(a)(2)(D)] or a career and technology course under Section
28.002(a)(2)(D) [28.002(a)(2)(E)].
SECTION 3. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require
that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school
program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students
successfully complete:
(1) four credits in English language arts under
Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one
credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in
an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(2) three credits in mathematics under Section
28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in
geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course
authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(3) three credits in science under Section
28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any
advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one
credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional
advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(4) three credits in social studies under Section
28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at
least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in
economics or personal financial literacy & economics, and one
credit in world geography or world history;
(5) except as provided under Subsections (b-12),
(b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language
other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A);
(6) five elective credits;
(7) one credit in fine arts under Section
28.002(a)(1)(E) [28.002(a)(2)(D)]; and
(8) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one
credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C).
SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
school year.
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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.