Latest news with #SB12
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Texas Pushes LGBTQ+ School Club Ban as Pride Month Kicks Off
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texas lawmakers have advanced legislation that bans public K-12 schools from sponsoring student clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity, drawing sharp criticism from Democratic legislators and LGBTQ+ advocates. Senate Bill 12, sponsored by Senator Brandon Creighton, passed its final hurdle in the Texas House on Saturday and is now poised for the governor's signature. Newsweek has contacted Senator Brandon Creighton via email for comment. Why It Matters The bill's passage marks a significant escalation in Texas' ongoing campaign against what conservatives describe as ideological indoctrination in education, however critics argue the ban endangers children and strips them of their dignity. The legislation would specifically bar schools from authorizing or sponsoring LGBTQ+ student clubs and is part of a broader legislative push that has also targeted diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in K-12 settings. File photo: a pride flag is seen ahead of pride month. File photo: a pride flag is seen ahead of pride month. Aaron Schwartz/Sipa via AP What To Know Alongside banning LGBTQ+ school clubs, Senate Bill 12, often dubbed the "Parental Bill of Rights," gives parents expanded authority over what clubs their children can join. The bill emphasizes that parents have a fundamental right to direct their child's education and upbringing, including decisions on moral, religious, medical, and psychological matters. It prohibits public schools from "infringing" on those rights unless required to serve a compelling state interest. The bill bans instruction, programming, or activities related to sexual orientation or gender identity in all grades, pre-K through 12. Schools are barred from allowing third-party groups to deliver such content as well. SB 12 also explicitly bans any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) responsibilities for school employees unless mandated by state or federal law. It defines DEI broadly to include hiring practices, training programs, or any special treatment based on race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. What People Are Saying State Senator Brandon Creighton said in a statement: "Passing the Texas Education Freedom Act sends a message to all of Texas. It tells the next generation of Texas leaders: your path should fit your purpose—your ambition is greater than any system. It tells our educators that innovation and excellence will be encouraged—not limited by ZIP code. And it tells every parent in Texas: you are trusted, you are respected, and you are in charge." "The future of Texas begins in the classroom. Too often, we get lost in the debates about systems and budgets and programs. Not today—today, we are focused on the child at the center of it all. The one who needs a hand up, a better fit, or simply a chance." Democratic State Representative Gene Wu said during the debate, according to The Texas Tribune: "The real monsters are not kids trying to figure out who they are. The monsters are not the teachers who love them and encourage them and support them. They are not the books that provide them with some amount of comfort and information. The real monsters are here." Democratic State Representative Rafael Anchía, said, according to The Texas Tribune: "It wasn't a sex club. They'd get together and they'd watch movies. They'd color. They'd go to musicals. It was about a kid who felt weird who found her people and everything about it was good. I don't know why grown-ups in this body are so triggered with my daughter getting together with her classmates in a school-sponsored activity." Democratic State Representative Jolanda Jones, said, according to The Texas Tribune: "We've passed bill after bill about access to care, about youth suicide, about prevention and treatment. But this bill makes kids sicker, sadder, more alone. This bill doesn't protect children. It endangers them. It doesn't give parents more rights. It strips children of their dignity." What Happens Next Passed by both chambers, the bill awaits the signature of Governor Greg Abbott. If enacted, the rules would take effect from September 1, 2025, and Texas would join a growing number of Republican-led states that have passed similar restrictions on school activities and curriculum related to LGBTQ+ identities.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DEI in public education: Texas House committee considers ban in K-12 schools
A Texas House panel debated a bill Tuesday proposing to ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in hiring and training within public schools, similar to legislation the Legislature passed in 2023 for higher education. Senate Bill 12, dubbed a "parental rights bill," also seeks to tighten parental notification requirements regarding issues like changes to a child's mental or physical health, criminal offenses, uncertified teacher assignments, or sex education. The effort to limit DEI in public schools mirrors a similar push in 2023 to ban DEI in public universities and colleges in Texas. That 2023 law, SB 17, reshaped equity-based student support practices in higher education, led to university staff layoffs and dismantled offices meant to help minority students. The Trump administration is also seeking to strip DEI from the federal government, including in education. During the House Committee on Public Educating hearing on the bill, Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, said that SB 12, passed by the Senate in March, aims to provide parents greater oversight of their children's education. Leach is sponsoring the bill by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, in the House. 'I am concerned when it comes to our history and being inclusive in that history,' said Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin. When Hinojosa asked if a school lesson about Harvey Milk — the first openly gay man elected to public office in California — would violate the bill, Leach told her no. Hinojosa also noted that when lawmakers talk about banning DEI, they need to be clear about exactly what that means for teachers. 'They need to have a specific understanding of what is prohibited in their jobs,' Hinojosa said. Rep. John Bryant, a Dallas Democrat, pushed back on the fact that the bill would prohibit districts from specifically seeking minority teachers for schools that serve primarily minority students. 'Don't you agree that some considerations should be given to trying to have a faculty in school that looks a little bit like the student population there?' Bryant asked. Leach instead maintained that schools should be conducting their hiring practices based on merit and qualifications alone. 'This is about performance and achievement and instruction, and very strongly stands against and prohibits discriminatory practices,' Leach said. The House version of SB 12 cut out a limit on district-sponsored student clubs that are 'based on sexual orientation or gender identity,' Leach said Tuesday. While education advocates said this was a good move, they still fear the bill might limit minority and LGBTQ+ students' access to information and resources about their communities. Ash Hall, policy and advocacy strategist on LGBTQIA+ rights at ACLU of Texas, said the bill would mandate that educators disclose personal information about a student's identity, even without the student's consent. Hall said SB 12 could also lead to classroom censorship. 'This bill creates red tape and compliance burdens that distract schools from teaching and learning,' Hall said during a news conference Tuesday. 'It is not about improving education. It is about controlling it.' During the news conference, Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, called the bill a further attack on minority and LGBTQ+ students and said Texas should be celebrating diversity. 'If passed, this bill would undermine educators by giving parents complete control over their students' education and strip students of their personal autonomy and privacy, force school staff to out their students to their parents, limit educators' ability to tailor their lessons due to vague language, (and) effectively ban district staff and contractors from carrying out DEI duties,' Reynolds said. The committee left the bill pending Tuesday. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas House panel weighs DEI ban in public schools
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas lawmakers debating DEI ban in K-12 schools ask: Do students benefit from teachers who look like them?
Lawmakers debating a bill that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in Texas public schools briefly sparred over a question that has been answered by years of research but is often overlooked in political discussions: Should the state help staff classrooms with teachers who look like their students? The debate, which focused heavily on Black students, happened Tuesday while the Texas House Public Education Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 12, a proposal that would extend the state's ban on DEI initiatives in public universities and colleges to K-12 schools. The committee left a vote pending on whether to send the bill to the full House for consideration. Research is clear: Students, and notably Black students, benefit from having teachers of the same race or ethnicity, academically and personally. 'I'm just saying it's obvious that a young Black child is very likely going to need to see a Black person in a position of responsibility. A Black person teaching them and caring for them,' said Rep. John Bryant, D-Dallas. 'We would not want, I don't think, all white teachers in a predominantly Black school, would we?' Rep. Jeff Leach, the Plano Republican who is sponsoring the Senate bill in the House, disagreed. Leach said his son has a Hispanic teacher, and 'she's the best teacher he's ever had,' suggesting that students' success does not depend on teachers looking like them. He also noted that the bill explicitly prohibits assigning teachers to classrooms based on their identity, arguing that doing so would complicate staffing at a time when Texas faces a severe teacher shortage. 'I don't believe it matters to the vast majority of Texas parents what color the teacher is or isn't,' Leach said. Over half of all students in Texas are Hispanic, while 25% are white and 13% are Black, according to the Texas Education Agency's 2024 annual report. Yet 52% of Texas teachers are white, 31% are Hispanic and 13% are Black, TEA data shows. SB 12, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would prohibit school districts from taking teachers' race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation into account when hiring educators and developing policies. Leach presented a new version of the bill that did away with a contentious measure that would have banned student clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But it also added several new provisions. Leach's version of the bill would mandate schools to discipline or fire employees who engage in any DEI-related efforts. It also requires parental consent for children to participate in certain school activities or health care services, new processes for parents to file grievances and the creation of a state office to investigate those complaints. In addition, the bill calls for stricter rules on how schools cover topics of sexuality and gender in their curriculum. SB 12 would prohibit the Texas School Board of Education from adopting curriculum standards that require sexuality and gender education, and would ban these classes in pre-K schools. Supporters of banning DEI efforts in public schools claim that such practices are discriminatory, waste taxpayer dollars and promote specific ideologies and political views in the classroom instead of focusing on the quality of education. Critics, on the other hand, have stressed that having a diverse teacher body helps students succeed academically and has a positive impact on their mental health. A Stanford University study, one of many conducted on the topic, found that Black students with same-race teachers in Tennessee showed significant academic improvements, with math scores rising three to five percentile points and reading scores doubling. Research also shows that Black students often face harsher discipline than white students. 'This leads to pipeline issues and explosions, which then lead to college outcomes that are different,' said Antonio Ingram, senior counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, speaking in opposition to the bill during public testimony. 'And so having a person who looks like you in the classroom is not just a preference, it's not just an opinion. It leads to outcomes that are better for all students.' In 2023, lawmakers banned DEI offices, policies and training programs at Texas public universities. Since then, students and faculty members have raised concerns that their colleges are overenforcing the ban. For example, the University of Texas at Austin closed its multicultural center and canceled scholarships for undocumented students, as well as fired several employees who worked in DEI-related programs. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have said schools are not doing enough to enforce the ban and have threatened their funding if they can't show they're following the law. The state has also taken a more active role in shaping how children learn about race and racism in school. The Texas Legislature passed a law in 2021 that banned schools from teaching critical race theory, an academic framework that looks at how racial inequality is built into laws and institutions. The discipline is not taught in public schools but has become a target of conservative criticism in recent years. Last year, the State Board of Education approved a new optional school curriculum, which has been heavily criticized by parents and teachers who say it fails to give students enough context on the country's history of racism and slavery. Jaden Edison contributed to this story. Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
It's not just about vouchers and school funding. Here are the other Texas public education bills you should track.
Private school vouchers, public school finance and teacher pay have been the focus of heated debates during this year's legislative session over how to direct taxpayer dollars to support Texas children's education. But those haven't been the only education-related issues up for discussion. Many other bills aim to reshape public education in Texas. Some offer additional resources, while others introduce new restrictions. Proposed legislation would boost funding for campus safety, support students who are falling behind in math and reading, and prohibit the use of cellphones during school hours. Other measures have drawn more controversy. These include bills that would extend the state's higher ed ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs to K-12 schools, require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, and expand teachers' authority to discipline students. Supporters say these changes will improve classroom environments, while critics warn they could harm the state's most vulnerable children. Here's a look at some of the most significant education bills under consideration and where they stand in the legislative process. In March, the Texas Senate approved a bill that would expand the state's DEI ban on its public colleges and universities to K-12 public schools. The measure, Senate Bill 12, is now under consideration in the Texas House. SB 12, filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton, the Conroe Republican who chairs the Senate's K-16 education committee, would prevent school districts from taking race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation into account in employment decisions. It would also outlaw trainings, programs and activities that reference those characteristics, unless required by federal or state law. In addition, the bill would bar student groups centered on sexual orientation or gender identity from public schools. It would also give parents the right to file complaints about any perceived violations of the DEI ban, prompting formal investigations. Supporters say that DEI initiatives waste instructional time and taxpayer funds, and push political ideologies onto students. During a hearing earlier this year, Creighton said DEI programs are 'using millions of taxpayer dollars meant for the classroom to fund political activism and political agendas.' Opponents warn that eliminating DEI support could worsen inequities; increase bullying, harassment and discrimination; exacerbate mental health problems; make some students feel ashamed of their identities; limit how topics like race are discussed in classrooms; and allow racism to grow in schools. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 13, by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, would give school boards and parents more control over what books can be put in school libraries, as well as ban books that have 'indecent content or profane content.' Anti-censorship advocates say it could lead to the removal of books featuring gender and sexuality content from school libraries. The bill was passed by the Senate in March and is awaiting consideration in the House. Earlier this year, the Texas Senate approved a pair of bills that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms and set aside time during the school day for prayer. The measures are priorities for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the leader of the Texas Senate, which approved them in March. They are now awaiting consideration in the House. Supporters say the bills are an acknowledgement of the country's religious roots and would help restore traditional values. Sen. Mayes Middleton, the Republican who authored Senate Bill 11, the prayer-in-school bill, defended the legislation by saying, 'Our schools are not God-free zones.' He added, 'We are a state and nation built on 'In God We Trust.'' Senate Bill 10, the Ten Commandments bill, was met with sharp criticism from some Democratic lawmakers. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, has argued the measure goes too far in promoting a specific faith. 'Most Texans are religious,' she said during floor debate in March, 'but I would venture that Texans do not want religion crammed down their throat by their government.' Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, also raised concerns during the debate. He read aloud a letter signed by 166 religious leaders from across the state, including Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Buddhist representatives, who urged lawmakers to oppose the Ten Commandments bill. The letter warned against turning public schools into places of worship, arguing that such moves risk alienating students from diverse backgrounds. As Texas struggles with a severe teacher shortage, school districts, especially in rural areas, have increasingly turned to hiring uncertified educators to fill classroom vacancies. Last year, 56% of newly hired teachers across the state were not certified, raising concerns about the quality of education students are receiving. Senate Bill 2253, would require schools to have only certified teachers in core subjects by the 2029-30 school year. To help teachers, it would include a one-time $1,000 stipend for some untrained educators who were recently hired and get certified by the end of the next school year. The bill is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Amid rising concerns about classroom violence, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas lawmakers are pushing legislation that would expand school districts' authority to discipline students. House Bill 6 passed the House and is now being reviewed by the Senate K-16 Education Committee. It seeks to give schools more flexibility in handling disruptive behavior. The bill would allow administrators to suspend students for 'repeated and significant' classroom disruptions or for actions that endanger the safety of others, requiring those students to remain out of school during the suspension period. In recent years, Texas law has limited such discipline. Students in pre-K through second grade have generally been protected from suspension unless they committed serious crimes. Similar protections have applied to homeless students, who could only be suspended in cases involving violence, weapons, drugs or alcohol. HB 6 would roll back those restrictions, giving schools broader discretion to suspend these students. Though the bill has received strong Republican support in the House, some lawmakers say it needs more clarity. In March, Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, urged representatives to tighten the bill's language, warning, 'we're not sending kindergarteners home to an empty apartment.' Another bill, Senate Bill 1872, which has passed by the Senate and is under review by the House Public Education Committee, would require the expulsion of any student who assaults a teacher or a school volunteer, even if the incident happened off campus. Expelled students would be placed in the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, which serves students who have been removed from their original schools. Another bill would expedite the process of referring students to truancy court when they miss out on school. Senate Bill 1925, which still hasn't received a vote in the Senate K-16 Education Committee, would no longer require schools to intervene before referring students to court. It also requires schools to notify parents if their children have three truancies in four weeks. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1871 would make it easier for students to get mental health help through the telehealth platforms and for those required to go to an alternative education program to participate virtually. The measure has passed the Senate and was referred to the House Education Committee. Lawmakers are also considering increasing funding for school safety. In 2023, a year after the Uvalde elementary school shooting, the state passed House Bill 3, mandating armed officers at every school. The law also increased schools' annual safety allotment to $10 per student, gave districts $15,000 per school for safety upgrades, and created a $1.1 billion grant program to help school districts pay for additional school safety requirements, like silent panic alerts. Many school leaders said the measure wasn't enough to pay for those new jobs or otherwise implement the law effectively. Law enforcement shortages have also made it hard for schools to hire new officers. One key proposal this session is Senate Bill 260, authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, which would give schools an additional $28 per student and $30,000 per campus each year to pay for safety upgrades. The bill has been passed in both chambers. Lawmakers will now meet behind closed doors to resolve the differences between their two versions. Another bill, Senate Bill 598, introduced by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, offers a more generous funding model, proposing to give schools $100 per student and $60,000 per campus each year for school safety. The bill is currently under review by the Senate K-16 Education Committee. Earlier this month, the Texas House approved House Bill 123, which aims to provide struggling students extra learning support as early as kindergarten, before learning gaps compound. Last month, the Senate passed a similar bill, Senate Bill 2252. Members from both chambers are now expected to reconcile differences in their proposals in a closed-door conference committee. More than half of third graders in the state are not at grade level in reading or math, meaning they lack the key foundational skills they need to thrive as learners. Students who are behind in third grade rarely catch up, which can lead to serious consequences later in life. Research shows students who struggle to read by third grade are more likely to drop out of high school. Math proficiency is tied to economic mobility as an adult. The legislation would require districts to use literacy and numeracy screeners to identify students who are struggling early on. The screeners would assess students three times a year between pre-K and 3rd grade on skills like phonics, vocabulary and spelling. Those who are furthest behind would get extra tutoring in small group settings. The legislation would also expand educators' access to math and reading instructional materials. Teachers often work unpaid hours to complete training known as math and reading academies, which give them the tools to help build students' skills in those subjects. HB 123 would give districts funding to pay teachers who take those courses after their regular workday. After several states across the country introduced strict limits on cellphone use in public schools, Texas lawmakers are considering a similar approach. House Bill 1481, introduced by Rep. Caroline Fairly of Amarillo, the only Gen Z member of the Texas House, aims to significantly restrict the use of "personal communication devices" in public schools. This includes cellphones, tablets, smartwatches and similar electronics. Fairly said she hopes the measure will improve students' mental health and academic performance. Supporters of the bill say it could help reduce cyberbullying. The bill would give school districts some flexibility in how to implement the restrictions. They would be able to ban the devices entirely, provide designated storage areas, or extend the ban to extracurricular activities. However, not all lawmakers support the proposal. During a hearing earlier this year, Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston, expressed concerns that the policy might prevent students from reaching emergency services or contacting their parents when needed. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Senate passes bill to eliminate DEI in K-12 schools
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas state senators voted along party lines this week to pass an education omnibus bill that would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at K-12 public schools. Senate Bill 12, filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, is called the Texas Parental Bill of Rights in Education. The senator explained at its core, the bill solidifies that 'parents are the chief decision-makers for their children.' The bill aims to strengthen parental rights, reform student transfers in public schools and increase transparency for parents, mandating schools notify parents of any opt-out options on instruction. But the element of the bill that garnered the most conversation on the Senate floor was the ban on DEI. The bill says schools must remove DEI policies and activities and that school districts must implement discipline policies for any violations. Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, gave a passionate response to the bill on the chamber floor. 'The state has demonized DEI,' Borris said. He added that 'if the achievement gaps for minority students widen, we can look back to this bill as the start.' Creighton defended his bill and argued DEI policies are actually dividing students even more in the classrooms. 'They're certainly not bringing all students together,' Creighton said on the chamber floor. Opponents of the bill also argue the elimination of DEI from public schools will make it harder for schools to hire teachers. Sarai Flores, a policy fellow for School Board Members for Latino Equity, testified at a senate committee hearing in February about SB 12. 'At a time where Texas faces a severe teacher shortage, we should be trying to attract diverse talent from around the country to teach at our schools,' Flores said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who made this bill one of his top priorities of the session, released a statement following the passage. 'I prioritized SB 12 because parents must be empowered to have an even greater role in their children's education,' Patrick said. 'With more parental input and empowerment, Texas students will be better served by the public education system. I thank Sen. Creighton for his continued commitment to improving public education in Texas.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
