Current with legislation from the 2023 Regular and Special Sessions signed by the Governor as of November 21, 2023.
Section 29.906 - Character Traits and Personal Skills Instruction(a) The State Board of Education shall integrate positive character traits and personal skills into the essential knowledge and skills adopted for kindergarten through grade 12, as appropriate.(b) The State Board of Education must include the following positive character traits and personal skills:(2) trustworthiness, including honesty, reliability, punctuality, and loyalty;(4) respect and courtesy;(5) responsibility, including accountability, diligence, perseverance, self-management skills, and self-control;(6) fairness, including justice and freedom from prejudice;(7) caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion, consideration, patience, generosity, charity, and interpersonal skills;(8) good citizenship, including patriotism, concern for the common good and the community, responsible decision-making skills, and respect for authority and the law;(c) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school must adopt a character education program that includes the positive character traits and personal skills listed in Subsection (b). In developing or selecting a character education program under this section, a school district shall consult with a committee selected by the district that consists of:(1) parents of district students;(3) other members of the community, including community leaders.(d) This section does not require or authorize proselytizing or indoctrinating concerning any specific religious or political belief.(e) The agency shall:(1) maintain a list of character education programs that school districts have implemented that meet the criteria under Subsection (b);(2) based on data reported by districts, annually designate as a Character Plus School each school that provides a character education program that: (A) meets the criteria prescribed by Subsection (b); and(B) is approved by the committee selected under Subsection (c); and(3) include in the report required under Section 39.332:(A) based on data reported by districts, the impact of character education programs on student discipline and academic achievement; and(B) other reported data relating to character education programs the agency considers appropriate for inclusion.(f) The agency may accept money from federal government and private sources to use in assisting school districts in implementing character education programs that meet the criteria prescribed by Subsection (b).(g) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.Amended by Acts 2021, Texas Acts of the 87th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. TBD,Sec. 2, eff. 9/1/2021, op. beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.Amended by Acts 2021, Texas Acts of the 87th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. TBD,Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/2021, op. beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.Amended by Acts 2019, Texas Acts of the 86th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 1057,Sec. 2, eff. 6/14/2019, op. beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.Amended by Acts 2019, Texas Acts of the 86th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 1057,Sec. 1, eff. 6/14/2019, op. beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.Amended by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 895, Sec. 44, eff. 6/19/2009.Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 478, Sec. 1, eff. 6/11/2001. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 29.903 by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1275, Sec. 2(18), eff. 9/1/2003.