A former member of the State Board of Education and freshman member of the Texas House, State Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson (R– Galveston) has filed three new bills that she says will empower the citizen-elected State Board of Education to tamp down against radical ideology in schools.
House Bill 1804 would create new criteria for the instructional materials that would be approved by the SBOE each year. Among these requirements are that the materials should present positive aspects of the U.S. and its heritage, as well as contrasting viewpoints regarding significant political and social movements in history in a balanced and factual manner.
Additionally, this bill would prohibit instructional materials based on critical race theory and any works that contain blatantly offensive language or illustrations.
House Bill 1822 would give the SBOE the authority to review any advanced placement course offered in the state, also requiring AP courses to be compliant with the state law and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills adopted by the board.
Meanwhile, House Bill 1837 would give the SBOE members the opportunity to appoint expert members to any TEKS writing committee established by the Texas Education Agency.
As parental rights in education is one of the legislative priorities for the Republican Party of Texas, more legislators are filing bills to ensure parents have a say in their children’s education.
“These are common-sense bills that will ensure that the SBOE regains its constitutional jurisdiction. Elected board members are beholden to the voters, unlike bureaucratic state agency employees,” said Leo-Wilson. “Parents know what’s best for their children’s educational needs, and it is important that we empower their elected SBOE representatives, not textbook publishers who are beholden to other interests.”
Concerned citizens can contact their elected officials to ask how they will vote to reform public education.
