The bill amends the Texas Education Code to enhance the curriculum requirements for high school students in public schools by mandating the inclusion of courses focused on the United States and Texas Constitutions. Specifically, it requires each school district to offer a course titled "The United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution" that fulfills the criteria for a half-credit social studies course. This course will be part of the foundation curriculum, which also includes subjects such as English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, with an emphasis on the free enterprise system and geography. Additionally, the bill specifies that the State Board of Education will develop a list of publicly available curricula to assist schools in meeting this requirement.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing provisions regarding high school graduation requirements, replacing the previous economics requirement with the new constitutional course. It also repeals a section of the Education Code related to economics, ensuring that students must now complete credits in the United States and Texas Constitutions as part of their social studies education. The changes will apply to students entering the ninth grade in the 2025-2026 school year or later, while those entering higher grades during that school year will continue to follow the previous requirements. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 28.002, Education Code 28.0021 (Education Code 28)