Bill advancing towards governor's signature, aimed at prohibiting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as well as LGBTQ student clubs, within Texas schools.
Texas Sets to Ban DEI Policies in Schools with Senate Bill 12
Ready for a shift in Texas education? Senate Bill 12 is on its way to the governor's desk, and it's about to change the game for K-12 schools.
This bad boy bans DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies in hiring and training, shuts down student groups centered around gender identity and sexual orientation, and prohibits school employees from assisting transgender students with social transitioning. It doesn't stop there; parents can now peek at their kid's school library books too.
Who's behind this wave of change? Republican Sen. Brandon Creighton of Conroe, the same guy who authored SB17 - the 2023 law that bans DEI in the state's colleges and universities. Creighton calls SB12 the "strongest Education Parental Bill of Rights in America," joing a lineup of conservative bills aimed at giving parents more control over their kids' curriculums.
Excited about this bill? Republican state Rep. Brad Buckley, chair of the House Public Education Committee, is. He says SB 12 is all about the kids. According to him, "They're all important, and they have way more in common than they have in differences. We want to return that so that children can gather together in things that are community minded where they can share experiences together throughout their school year."
Not everyone's thrilled, though. North Texas Democratic state Rep. Chris Turner opposes SB12, calling it partisan, harmful, unnecessary, and divisive. He says parents in his district weren't demanding the rights SB12 creates. He also argues that the bill will hurt kids by outlawing school organizations like the Gay Straight Alliance, all with the state's stamp of approval.
"That same government is going to say to high school kids 'you cannot be in a club with people like you,'" Turner said. "Think how wrong that is."
The ACLU isn't happy either, saying SB12 "censors discussions of race, gender, and sexual orientation" and threatens the privacy of trans and nonbinary students. Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal of Houston agrees, saying the bill specifically prevents "policies and programs that teach about the racial history, the racial relationships, the different cultures." He calls it "one of the worst" things he's seen in his four sessions in the legislature.
So, what's next? The bill is now waiting for Governor Greg Abbott's signature. If he signs it, the law goes into effect on September 1, 2025.
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- The change in Texas education, as outlined in Senate Bill 12, could significantly impact K-12 schools' DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, education, and self-development, including hiring and training practices, student groups, and transgender student support.
- According to Republican Sen. Brandon Creighton, SB12 is designed to give parents more control over their children's education and is the strongest Education Parental Bill of Rights in America, joining a lineup of conservative bills focused on politics and legislation.
- Democratic state Rep. Chris Turner, however, opposes SB12, claiming it is partisan, harmful, unnecessary, and divisive, arguing that it will negatively affect students, especially those in groups like the Gay Straight Alliance, and potentially violate the privacy of trans and nonbinary students.
- It remains to be seen what will happen next, as the bill awaits Governor Greg Abbott's signature, and if it becomes law, it will take effect on September 1, 2025, potentially impacting general news and learning in Texas schools for years to come.
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