When Texas public school students return for classes this fall, their clubs and classrooms will be subject to a new DEI ban.
Senate Bill 12 — signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott — prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in K-12 schools. It builds on a previous law that bans DEI work in higher education.
“Our schools should be about teaching history and reading, writing and math and civic responsibility,” Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen, said as he advocated for the bill in the Legislature. “We need to get away from some of the more toxic social issues.”
The law’s Sept. 1 implementation date has already triggered changes in Dallas ISD and other districts across the state.
Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas have threatened to sue based on the new requirements, calling elements of the law unconstitutional.
ACLU of Texas attorney Brian Klosterboer said in a statement that it sends a “false message” that students of color and LGBTQ children don’t belong in the classroom.
Here are some of the ways the legislation will impact schools.
LGBTQ clubs and instruction
SB 12 bars schools from sponsoring a student club “based on sexual orientation or gender identity.” Additionally, it requires school officials to get a parent’s permission before a child joins a school club.
Teenagers involved in Gender and Sexuality Alliances and similar groups are worried about losing refuge on campus.
“It was nice to be accepted as an official club and a safe space,” said Willow Biasi, the GSA leader at Sherman High School.
The law also forbids schools from providing instruction, guidance or programming on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Schools are barred from helping in the social transitioning of a transgender child, which can include using new names or pronouns.
“The board of trustees of a school district shall adopt a policy prohibiting an employee of the district from assisting a student enrolled in the district with social transitioning, including by providing any information about social transitioning,” the law reads.
DEI programming
Public and charter schools are prohibited from enacting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
The prohibitions include race-based or gender-based hiring preferences, as well as required diversity statements.
District officials can discipline or fire employees found in violation of the law.
The law does not “limit or prohibit a school district from acknowledging or teaching the significance of state and federal holidays or commemorative months and how those holidays or months fit into the themes of history.”
Parental rights
Parents must have access to their child’s lessons, library records and attendance records, and they must be provided updates on health screenings.
The law sets rules and timelines for parental grievances against their school districts, as well as requires school officials to create parental engagement policies.
“We believe it’s important for parents to make informed choices that align with their family’s values,” Leach said.
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