85R6627 MK-F     By: Geren H.B. No. 1291       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the inclusion of American principles in the public   school curriculum and instructional materials.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (h-1) to read as follows:          (h-1)  To accomplish the primary purpose stated in   Subsection (h), the State Board of Education and each school   district shall ensure that:                (1)  the public school curriculum emphasizes an   understanding of the principles underlying the United States form   of government, including the study of the Founding Fathers of the   United States, the Declaration of Independence, the United States   Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers;                (2)  each historical event addressed in the public   school curriculum meets a reasonable standard of historical   significance, in relation to the limited amount of available   instructional time;                (3)  any issue included in the public school curriculum   that is considered controversial is presented in a balanced manner   that includes multiple viewpoints regarding the issue; and                (4)  any curriculum generated, purchased, or otherwise   obtained by a district, including dual credit, advanced placement,   and international baccalaureate social studies courses, is in   compliance with the appropriate essential knowledge and skills   requirements adopted under this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 31.023(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  For each subject and grade level, the State Board of   Education shall adopt a list of instructional materials.  The list   includes each instructional material submitted for the subject and   grade level that meets applicable physical specifications adopted   by the State Board of Education, that [and] contains material that   is consistent with the purpose and guidelines of Sections 28.002(h)   and (h-1), and that covers [covering] at least half of the elements   of the essential knowledge and skills of the subject and grade level   in the student version of the instructional material, as well as in   the teacher version of the instructional material, as determined by   the State Board of Education under Section 28.002 and adopted under   Section 31.024.          SECTION 3.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this   section, this Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.          (b)  The changes in law made by this Act to Section   31.023(a), Education Code, apply to instructional materials   adopted by the State Board of Education on or after September 1,   2018.          SECTION 4.  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.