Texas Senate Bill SB451

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 11/21/24

Caption

Relating to the purchase, adoption, and use of instructional materials by public schools.

Impact

The enactment of SB451 seeks to ensure that only appropriate and approved instructional materials are used in public education, which supports the overall quality of education. By eliminating materials that contain obscene or harmful content, the bill aims to create a safer and more suitable learning environment for students. It further impacts the autonomy of school districts by outlining specific criteria that must be met for any locally-supported instructional resources, effectively aligning local practices with state standards.

Summary

SB451 is a legislative bill aimed at revising the purchase, adoption, and usage of instructional materials in public schools across Texas. This bill introduces a series of amendments to the Education Code, particularly concerning the types of educational resources that can be utilized in schools. The fundamental property of this bill is to restrict public school districts from adopting materials that are on a list of rejected instructional materials maintained by the State Board of Education, thereby enforcing a higher standard for educational content in classrooms.

Contention

Points of contention surrounding SB451 mainly revolve around the implications of limiting educational resources available to local districts, particularly those that wish to adopt open education resources. Critics assert that this bill could restrict the availability of diverse instructional materials, thereby diminishing educational opportunities for students. Proponents counter that these restrictions are necessary to prevent the dissemination of harmful content in schools, arguing for a balance between local control over educational decisions and the need for state oversight in maintaining educational quality.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

• Chapter 31. Instructional Materials And Technology
  • Section: 0211
  • Section: New Section