Relating to the purchase, adoption, and use of instructional materials by public schools.
Impact
The implementation of HB1358 is set to begin with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill's immediate effect hinges on receiving a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the Texas Legislature. If passed, it would create a more coherent regulatory framework regarding educational materials, thereby aligning school practices with state guidelines and prohibiting the adoption of content that could be harmful to students. This could also encourage districts to consider local funding in aligning their instructional materials with state requirements.
Summary
House Bill 1358 aims to regulate the purchase, adoption, and use of instructional materials in public schools across Texas. The bill amends various sections of the Texas Education Code to ensure that school districts may only adopt instructional materials that are not on a list of rejected materials maintained by the State Board of Education. This move is intended to protect students from accessing materials deemed harmful or obscene and to enforce a standardized approach to educational resources across school districts.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding HB1358 include concerns regarding academic freedom and local control over educational content. Critics argue that restricting the types of materials available to schools might hinder educators' ability to tailor resources to meet the specific needs of their students. Furthermore, the bill may lead to disputes over what constitutes a 'rejected' material and could be viewed as a limitation on the diversity of educational approaches within Texas public schools.
Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected
Education Code
Chapter 31. Instructional Materials And Technology
Relating to instructional material and technology, the adoption of essential knowledge and skills for certain public school foundation curriculum subjects, and the extension of additional state aid to school districts for the provision of certain instructional materials; authorizing a fee.
Relating to instructional material and technology, the adoption of essential knowledge and skills for certain public school foundation curriculum subjects, and creating allotments for the procurement of certain instructional materials under the Foundation School Program; authorizing a fee.
Relating to the acceptable uses of the instructional materials and technology fund and the review of certain instructional materials by the State Board of Education.
Relating to parental access to records regarding library materials checked out from public school libraries and instructional materials used in public schools.
Relating to public education, including parental rights and public school responsibilities regarding instructional materials and the establishment of an education savings account program.
Relating to public education, including parental rights and public school responsibilities regarding instructional materials and the establishment of an education savings account program.
Relating to the foundation curriculum, the establishment of the instructional materials allotment, and the adoption, review, and purchase of instructional materials and technological equipment for public schools.
Relating to the foundation curriculum, the establishment of the instructional materials allotment, and the adoption, review, and purchase of instructional materials and technological equipment for public schools.
Relating to the instructional materials and technology allotment, open education resource instructional materials, and the State Board of Education long-range technology plan.
Relating to the instructional materials and technology allotment, open education resource instructional materials, and the State Board of Education long-range technology plan.
Relating to the foundation curriculum, the establishment of the instructional materials allotment, and the adoption, review, and purchase of instructional materials and technological equipment for public schools; providing penalties.