Bill Text: TX HB37 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to requiring cultural inclusion curriculum as part of the enrichment curriculum for public schools.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-07-07 - Filed [HB37 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB37-Introduced.html
| 87S10029 MWC-F | ||
| By: Gervin-Hawkins | H.B. No. 37 | |
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| relating to requiring cultural inclusion curriculum as part of the | ||
| enrichment curriculum for public schools. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is 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 | ||
| (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; | ||
| (F) technology applications; | ||
| (G) religious literature, including the Hebrew | ||
| Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on | ||
| history and literature; [ |
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| (H) personal financial literacy; and | ||
| (I) cultural inclusion. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 28.0029 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 28.0029. CULTURAL INCLUSION CURRICULUM. (a) The State | ||
| Board of Education shall develop curriculum on cultural inclusivity | ||
| that a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall use | ||
| in the district's or school's cultural inclusivity courses. | ||
| (b) The curriculum must encourage: | ||
| (1) a student's sense of self; | ||
| (2) an acceptance of diversity through the | ||
| identification and exploration of differences; | ||
| (3) critical thinking about bias through the | ||
| identification and exploration of discrimination and stereotypes; | ||
| (4) empathy toward others; and | ||
| (5) advocating for oneself in the face of bias. | ||
| (c) In developing the curriculum under this section, the | ||
| State Board of Education shall consult with interested parties and | ||
| may create a work group of volunteers to make recommendations | ||
| regarding the curriculum. | ||
| (d) Before finalizing the curriculum developed under this | ||
| section, the State Board of Education shall provide a reasonable | ||
| period for public comment. | ||
| (e) Subject to rules adopted by the State Board of | ||
| Education, a school district or open-enrollment charter school may | ||
| tailor the curriculum developed under this section as appropriate | ||
| for the district's or school's community. In tailoring the | ||
| instruction, the district or school shall solicit input from the | ||
| State Board of Education, the agency, community members, and other | ||
| interested individuals or organizations. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2022-2023 | ||
| school year. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect December 1, 2021. | ||
