88R1706 JTZ-F     By: Bucy H.B. No. 323       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 2023-2024   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, 2023.