Eckhardt Bill Sorts Student Data Into Seven Race And Ethnicity Groups

The text as introduced · 451 words

By: Eckhardt
S.B. No. 2390

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the collection and reporting of data regarding race and

ethnicity by the Texas Education Agency.

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

SECTION 1.Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 7.038 to read as follows:

Sec. 7.038. COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC

INFORMATION. (a) In collecting and disaggregating data by race or

ethnicity for purposes of a reporting requirement related to

academic achievement, graduation rates, attendance rates,

languages spoken at home, or access to educational resources, the

agency shall require the following categories to be used:

(1) American Indian or Alaska Native, including

subcategories including all Indian tribes or bands which are

recognized by federal law and located in this state;

(2) Asian, including the following subcategories:

(A) Asian Indian;

(B) Chinese;

(C) Filipino;

(D) Korean;

(E) Pakistani;

(F) Vietnamese; and

(G) other;

(3) Black or African American, including the following

subcategories:

(A) African American;

(B) Ethiopian;

(C) Haitian;

(D) Jamaican;

(E) Nigerian;

(F) Somali; and

(G) other;

(4) Hispanic or Latino, including the following

subcategories:

(A) Cuban;

(B) Dominican;

(C) Guatemalan;

(D) Mexican;

(E) Puerto Rican;

(F) Salvadoran; and

(G) other;

(5) Middle Eastern or North African, including the

following subcategories:

(A) Egyptian;

(B) Iranian;

(C) Iraqi;

(D) Israeli;

(E) Lebanese;

(F) Syrian; and

(G) other;

(6) Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, including the

following subcategories:

(A) Chamorro;

(B) Fijian;

(C) Marshallese;

(D) Native Hawaiian;

(E) Samoan;

(F) Tongan; and

(G) other; and

(7) White, including the following subcategories:

(A) English;

(B) German;

(C) Irish;

(D) Italian;

(E) Polish;

(F) Scottish; and

(G) other.

(b) In collecting demographic data under this section, the

agency shall provide the option to:

(1) select more than one category for race or ethnic

origin; and

(2) select more than one subcategory for race or

ethnic origin.

(c) The agency shall post in a publicly available location

on the agency's Internet website data collected under a reporting

requirement described by Subsection (a) in a manner that:

(1) Is disaggregated by the categories and

subcategories of race and ethnicity provided by Subsection (a),

subject to Subdivision (3);

(2) is easily accessible and readily understandable;

and

(3) complies with federal law regarding

confidentiality of student educational information, including

the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.

Section 1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student

information.

SECTION 2. Not later than the 2027-2028 school year, the

Texas Education Agency shall revise the agency's reporting

standards as necessary to comply with Section 7.038, Education

Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.