Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits teaching "critical race theory" in public schools.

Highlights:

• Requires the the State Board of Education to adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student ’s civic knowledge, including an understanding of (Sec. 2-1):

• The fundamental moral, political, entrepreneurial, and intellectual foundations of the American experiment in self-government;

• The history, qualities, traditions, and features of civic engagement in the United States;

• The structure, function, and processes of government institutions at the federal, state, and local levels;

• The founding documents of the United States.

• Requires the State Board of Education to encourage an understanding of the history and importance of (Sec. 2-1.E):

• The federal Civil Rights Act of 1964;

• The 13th, 14th, and 19th Amendments to the United States Constitution;

• The complexity of the historic relationship between Texas and Mexico; and

• The diversity of the Hispanic population in Texas;

• Requires the State Board of Education to encourage the appreciation of (Sec. 2-3):

• The importance and responsibility of participating in civic life;

• A commitment to the United States and its form of government; and

• A commitment to free speech and civil discourse.

• Prohibits a state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school from accepting private funding to develop a curriculum, purchase or select curriculum materials, or provide teacher training or professional development for a course (Sec. 4-4.c).

• Prohibits requiring an understanding of the 1619 Project (Sec. 4-4.C).

• Prohibits a teacher, administrator, or other employee of a state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school from mandating or making part of a course inculcation in the concept that (Sec. 4-4.A):

• One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;

• An individual, by virtue of the individual ’s race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;

• An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual ’s race or sex;

• An individual ’s moral character, standing, or worth is necessarily determined by the individual ’s race or sex;

• An individual, by virtue of the individual ’s race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;

• An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individual ’s race or sex;

• Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race;

• The advent of slavery in the territory that is now the United States constituted the true founding of the United States; or

• With respect to their relationship to American values, slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to the authentic founding principles of the United States, which include liberty and equality.

Full Bill Text