| 1 | 1 | | 89R3720 ANG-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 659 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to requiring cultural inclusion as part of the social |
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| 10 | 10 | | studies curriculum for public schools. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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| 13 | 13 | | adding Subsection (h-3) to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (h-3) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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| 15 | 15 | | social studies curriculum for each grade level from kindergarten |
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| 16 | 16 | | through grade 12, the State Board of Education shall adopt |
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| 17 | 17 | | essential knowledge and skills that include the cultural inclusion |
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| 18 | 18 | | curriculum developed under Section 28.0029. |
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| 19 | 19 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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| 20 | 20 | | amended by adding Section 28.0029 to read as follows: |
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| 21 | 21 | | Sec. 28.0029. CULTURAL INCLUSION CURRICULUM. (a) The |
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| 22 | 22 | | State Board of Education shall develop curriculum on cultural |
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| 23 | 23 | | inclusivity that a school district or open-enrollment charter |
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| 24 | 24 | | school shall use in the district's or school's social studies |
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| 25 | 25 | | courses. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (b) The curriculum must encourage: |
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| 27 | 27 | | (1) a student's sense of self; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (2) an acceptance of diversity through the |
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| 29 | 29 | | identification and exploration of differences; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (3) critical thinking about bias through the |
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| 31 | 31 | | identification and exploration of discrimination and stereotypes; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (4) empathy toward others; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | (5) advocating for oneself in the face of bias. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (c) In developing the curriculum under this section, the |
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| 35 | 35 | | State Board of Education shall consult with the agency and |
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| 36 | 36 | | appropriate stakeholders and may create a work group of volunteers |
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| 37 | 37 | | to make recommendations regarding the curriculum. |
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| 38 | 38 | | (d) The State Board of Education, the agency, and |
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| 39 | 39 | | appropriate stakeholders shall enter into a memorandum of |
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| 40 | 40 | | understanding that establishes each entity's respective |
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| 41 | 41 | | responsibilities in developing cultural inclusion curriculum that |
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| 42 | 42 | | reflects the cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity of |
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| 43 | 43 | | society. |
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| 44 | 44 | | (e) Before finalizing the curriculum developed under this |
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| 45 | 45 | | section, the State Board of Education shall provide a reasonable |
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| 46 | 46 | | period for public comment. |
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| 47 | 47 | | (f) Subject to rules adopted by the State Board of |
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| 48 | 48 | | Education, a school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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| 49 | 49 | | tailor the curriculum developed under this section as appropriate |
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| 50 | 50 | | for the district's or school's community. In tailoring the |
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| 51 | 51 | | instruction, the district or school shall solicit input from the |
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| 52 | 52 | | State Board of Education, the agency, community members, and other |
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| 53 | 53 | | interested individuals or organizations. |
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| 54 | 54 | | SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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| 55 | 55 | | school year. |
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| 56 | 56 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 57 | 57 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 58 | 58 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 59 | 59 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 60 | 60 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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