Texas Public Schools: Republicans Push To Expand Restrictions On Racism Education

State senators in Texas are considering legislation that would expand recently passed restrictions on social studies courses in public grade schools, despite concerns from educators and the absence of most Texas House Democrats that has brought lawmaking in that chamber to a halt.

It is the latest GOP push to restrict the teaching of critical race theory, a framework used to examine racism in colleges and universities that has become a Republican catch-all term for what some see as divisive efforts to address racism and inequity in schools.

During the regular legislative session that ended in May, Republicans rallied to pass House Bill 3979, which limits how teachers can discuss race and current events in social studies courses and bars them from awarding students course credit for social or political advocacy work.

The new law, slated to go into effect in September, says teachers may not be compelled to discuss current events or controversial topics of public policy.

If they do discuss such a topic, they must explore it from “diverse and contending perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective.”

Governor Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to the Capitol on July 8 to work on Republican priorities left pending after House Democrats’ walkout at the end of the regular session.

As part of the special session agenda, Abbott asked lawmakers to continue the work started in HB 3979.

The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 3, a broad measure expanding HB 3979’s restrictions to any subject in grades K-12, including ethnic studies courses.

It was passed on an 18-4 vote, with nine Democrats absent while in Washington, D.C., to join House Democrats in a protest over GOP voting bills. The House, however, cannot accept SB 3 due to a lack of quorum in the lower chamber.