Bill Text: TX HB1817 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to elective courses in ethnic studies for middle school and high school students.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-09 - Referred to Public Education [HB1817 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB1817-Introduced.html
85R7634 SRS-D | ||
By: Anchia | H.B. No. 1817 |
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relating to elective courses in ethnic studies for middle school | ||
and high school students. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 28.0111 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 28.0111. ELECTIVE COURSES IN ETHNIC STUDIES. (a) A | ||
school district may offer to middle and high school students one or | ||
more English language arts or social studies elective courses in | ||
ethnic studies that comply with curriculum standards adopted under | ||
Subsection (b) or (c). | ||
(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt separate | ||
content-based curriculum standards for each of the following ethnic | ||
studies courses: | ||
(1) Mexican American studies; | ||
(2) African American studies; | ||
(3) Native American studies; and | ||
(4) Asian American studies. | ||
(c) The State Board of Education may adopt separate | ||
content-based curriculum standards for additional ethnic studies | ||
courses not specified in Subsection (b). | ||
(d) The curriculum standards must: | ||
(1) include: | ||
(A) key historical figures, events, and dates; | ||
and | ||
(B) information regarding the ethnic group's | ||
contributions to society; and | ||
(2) be reviewed by academic experts with knowledge in | ||
the relevant ethnic studies field before final adoption by the | ||
State Board of Education. | ||
SECTION 2. The State Board of Education shall adopt | ||
curriculum standards for ethnic studies courses as required by | ||
Section 28.0111, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later | ||
than the date that permits school districts to offer ethnic studies | ||
courses that comply with the curriculum standards beginning with | ||
the 2018-2019 school year. | ||
SECTION 3. 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, 2017. |