Signed by Governor Greg Abbott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

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

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board of Education to adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic knowledge, including, but not limited to, an understanding of (Sec. 1.h-2):

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

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

• The history of Native Americans;

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

• The founding documents of the United States.

• Prohibits a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or teacher from requiring, making part of a course, or awarding a grade or course credit, including extra credit, for a student's (Sec. 1.h-3-3):

• Political activism, lobbying, or efforts to persuade members of the legislative or executive branch at the federal, state, or local level to take specific actions by direct communication; or

• Participation in an internship, practicum, or similar activity involving social or public policy advocacy.

• Prohibits a teacher, administrator, or other employee of a state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school from (Sec. 1.h-3-4):

• Being required to engage in training, orientation, or therapy that presents any form of race or sex-stereotyping or blame based on race or sex;

• Requiring or making part of a course the concept that:

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

• An individual, by 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;

• Members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;

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

• An individual, by 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

• Concerning 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; and

• Require an understanding of The 1619 Project.

• Prohibits a state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school from accepting private funding for the purpose of developing a curriculum, purchase or selecting curriculum materials, or providing teacher training or professional development (Sec. 1.h-4).

• Prohibits a school district or open-enrollment charter school from implementing, interpreting, or enforcing any rules or student code of conduct in a manner that would result in the punishment of a student for discussing, or have a chilling effect on student discussion of the concepts described by Subsection (h-3)(4) (Sec. 1.h-5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

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

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board of Education to adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic knowledge, including, but not limited to, an understanding of (Sec. 1.h-2):

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

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

• The history of Native Americans;

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

• The founding documents of the United States.

• Prohibits a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or teacher from requiring, making part of a course, or awarding a grade or course credit, including extra credit, for a student's (Sec. 1.h-3-3):

• Political activism, lobbying, or efforts to persuade members of the legislative or executive branch at the federal, state, or local level to take specific actions by direct communication; or

• Participation in an internship, practicum, or similar activity involving social or public policy advocacy.

• Prohibits a teacher, administrator, or other employee of a state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school from (Sec. 1.h-3-4):

• Being required to engage in training, orientation, or therapy that presents any form of race or sex-stereotyping or blame based on race or sex;

• Requiring or making part of a course the concept that:

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

• An individual, by 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;

• Members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;

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

• An individual, by 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

• Concerning 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; and

• Require an understanding of The 1619 Project.

• Prohibits a state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school from accepting private funding for the purpose of developing a curriculum, purchase or selecting curriculum materials, or providing teacher training or professional development (Sec. 1.h-4).

• Prohibits a school district or open-enrollment charter school from implementing, interpreting, or enforcing any rules or student code of conduct in a manner that would result in the punishment of a student for discussing, or have a chilling effect on student discussion of the concepts described by Subsection (h-3)(4) (Sec. 1.h-5).

Full Bill Text