S.B. No. 453 proposes to amend the Education Code to include a new requirement for public high school students to complete a course on modern conflicts as part of their social studies curriculum. Specifically, it adds a half credit in modern conflicts to the existing social studies requirements, which include U.S. history, government, and economics. The bill also mandates that the State Board of Education ensure that the course includes specific instruction on various historical events and ideologies related to modern conflicts, such as the history of Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, and significant events like the Gulf War and the September 11 attacks.

The bill outlines detailed content requirements for the modern conflicts course, covering topics such as the Bolshevik Revolution, the Tiananmen Square protests, and the Iraq and Afghan Wars, among others. This new curriculum requirement will apply to students entering the ninth grade starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill is set to take effect 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 28.025 (Education Code 28)