bill making fine arts part of the foundation curriculum

The text as introduced · 634 words

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 1229

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring fine arts as part of the foundation

curriculum for public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 28.002(a) and (n), Education Code, are

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

(E) fine arts; 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;

(E) [ (F) ] technology applications;

(F) [ (G) ] religious literature, including the

Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact

on history and literature; and

(G) [ (H) ] personal financial literacy.

(n) The State Board of Education may by rule develop and

implement a plan designed to incorporate foundation curriculum

requirements into the career and technology education curriculum

under Subsection (a)(2)(D) [ (a)(2)(E) ].

SECTION 2. Section 28.003(b), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) In this section, "educational program" means a course or

series of courses in the required curriculum under Section 28.002,

other than a fine arts course under Section 28.002(a)(1)(E)

[ 28.002(a)(2)(D) ] or a career and technology course under Section

28.002(a)(2)(D) [ 28.002(a)(2)(E) ].

SECTION 3. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require

that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school

program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students

successfully complete:

(1) four credits in English language arts under

Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one

credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in

an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);

(2) three credits in mathematics under Section

28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in

geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course

authorized under Subsection (b-2);

(3) three credits in science under Section

28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any

advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one

credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional

advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);

(4) three credits in social studies under Section

28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at

least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in

economics or personal financial literacy & economics, and one

credit in world geography or world history;

(5) except as provided under Subsections (b-12),

(b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language

other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A);

(6) five elective credits;

(7) one credit in fine arts under Section

28.002(a)(1)(E) [ 28.002(a)(2)(D) ]; and

(8) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one

credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C).

SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026

school year.

SECTION 5. 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, 2025.