Religion in schools
Two bills passed this session give religion - specifically, Christianity - a more prominent role in Texas public schools, barring potential legal challenges.
Senate Bill 10 requires that every public school classroom display the Ten Commandments in a visible place. The posters must be 16 by 20 inches, and can't include any other text. The bill builds on a 2021 law that requires "In God We Trust" signs to be displayed, though those were only required to be displayed if donated by a private group. A similar law to the Ten Commandments bill was ruled unconstitutional in Louisiana, and freedom of religion and civil rights groups in Texas said they plan to sue as soon as the governor signs it.
Senate Bill 11 requires school boards to vote on whether to have a period for staff and students to pray or study a religious text - and to allow students that time in the school day either way. Opponents raised concerns before the bill's passage that this could lead to teachers or staff members attempting to indoctrinate students
DEI in K-12 schools
Texas lawmakers wanted to give parents more say over what children are taught and which activities they join. A key part of this push is Senate Bill 12, which will ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in K-12 schools. The ban prohibits school districts from considering race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation in hiring and training. Lawmakers say DEI programs promote ideology over quality education. Parents can file complaints if they believe a school violates the ban, which can be
escalated to the Texas Education commissioner.
In addition, schools will be banned from authorizing
or sponsoring student clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill also requires parents to give consent for their children to participate in extracurricular clubs.
Critics say the law could negatively impact LGBTQ+ students and encourage self-censorship among teachers. Lawmakers proposed amendments, allowing educators to opt out of teaching what goes against their personal beliefs and ensuring students still learn the "uncomfortable truths" of U.S. history. but they failed.
- Sofia Sorochinskaia
Higher education oversight
Alarmed by last year's "disruptive" and "hate-filled" pro-Palestinian demonstrations, conservative lawmakers pushed to exert greater control over public higher education. They passed Senate Bill 37, giving political appointees - not subject-matte experts - the authority to review and reject courses and the hiring of a provost or the chief academic officer. That bill creates an office to investigate complaints against universities and recommend funding cuts.
Lawmakers also rolled back campus free speech protections with Senate Bill 2972, which gives politically appointed university regents the power to designate protest locations and prohibits students from erecting encampments, wearing disguises or protesting noisily in certain situations. A proposal to eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students advanced out of a committee for the first time in a decade but stalled before a full vote.
- Jessica Priest
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