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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to academic freedom for public school teachers providing |
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science instruction. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: |
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(1) an important purpose of science education is to |
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inform students about scientific evidence and help students develop |
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critical thinking skills necessary to become intelligent, |
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productive, and scientifically informed citizens; |
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(2) the teaching of some scientific subjects required |
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to be taught under the curriculum framework developed by the State |
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Board of Education may cause controversy, including climate change, |
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biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, and human |
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cloning; |
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(3) some teachers may be unsure of expectations |
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concerning how to present information when controversy arises |
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concerning a scientific subject; and |
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(4) the protection of a teacher's academic freedom is |
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necessary to enable the teacher to provide effective instruction |
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that serves the purpose stated in Subdivision (1) of this section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0162 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0162. ACADEMIC FREEDOM FOR TEACHERS. (a) The State |
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Board of Education, school district boards of trustees, and school |
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district administrators, including school principals, shall |
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endeavor to: |
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(1) create an environment within public elementary and |
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secondary schools that encourages students to: |
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(A) explore scientific questions; |
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(B) learn about scientific evidence; |
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(C) develop critical thinking skills; and |
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(D) respond appropriately and respectfully to |
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differences of opinion about scientific subjects required to be |
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taught under the curriculum framework developed by the State Board |
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of Education; and |
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(2) assist teachers in finding effective ways to |
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present scientific subjects required to be taught under the |
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curriculum framework developed by the State Board of Education that |
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may cause controversy. |
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(b) The State Board of Education, a school district board of |
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trustees, or a school district administrator, including a school |
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principal, may not prohibit a teacher from helping students |
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understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner |
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the scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific |
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theories included in a course taught in accordance with the |
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curriculum framework developed by the State Board of Education. |
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(c) This section applies only to teaching scientific |
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subjects included within the curriculum framework developed by the |
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State Board of Education. This section may not be construed to |
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promote: |
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(1) any religious or nonreligious doctrine; or |
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(2) discrimination for or against religion or |
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irreligion or a particular set of religious beliefs or nonbeliefs. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than August 1, 2017, the Texas |
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Education Agency shall notify the State Board of Education and the |
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board of trustees and superintendent of each school district in |
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this state of the provisions of this Act. |
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(b) Not later than August 15, 2017, each superintendent |
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shall notify each district administrator, including a school |
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principal, and district teacher of the provisions of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |