H.B. No. 1229 aims to amend the Texas Education Code to include fine arts as a required component of the foundation curriculum for public schools. Specifically, it adds fine arts as a mandatory subject under Section 28.002(a)(1)(E), which outlines the foundation curriculum that school districts must offer from kindergarten through grade 12. The bill also modifies the enrichment curriculum by removing fine arts from that section and instead emphasizes its inclusion in the foundation curriculum. Additionally, it updates the definition of "educational program" to clarify that fine arts courses are distinct from other required courses.

The bill further stipulates that the State Board of Education must ensure that the foundation high school program includes one credit in fine arts, aligning with the new insertion in Section 28.002(a)(1)(E). This requirement will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and the bill will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 28.002, Education Code 28.003 (Education Code 28)