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MRT (free): SBOE to Support for Bible-Infused Curriculum // Freeman Martin Named DPS Director // Moody’s Gives DAL Negative Debt Outlook // SAISD OKs Land for Ballpark
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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WEDNESDAY || 11/20/24
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TOP NEWS
“State Board of Education signals support for Bible-infused curriculum,” Texas Tribune's Jaden Edison — “A majority of the Texas State Board of Education signaled their support Tuesday for a state-authored curriculum under intense scrutiny in recent months for its heavy inclusion of biblical teachings.
Ahead of an official vote expected to happen Friday, eight of the 15 board members gave their preliminary approval to Bluebonnet Learning, the elementary school curriculum proposed by the Texas Education Agency earlier this year.
The state will have until late Wednesday to submit revisions in response to concerns raised by board members and the general public before the official vote takes place Friday. Board members reserve the right to change their votes.
The curriculum was designed with a cross-disciplinary approach that uses reading and language arts lessons to advance or cement concepts in other disciplines, such as history and social studies. Critics, which included religious studies experts, argue the curriculum’s lessons allude to Christianity more than any other religion, which they say could lead to the bullying and isolation of non-Christian students, undermine church-state separation and grant the state far-reaching control over how children learn about religion. They also questioned the accuracy of some lessons.
The curriculum’s defenders say that references to Christianity will provide students with a better understanding of the country’s history.
Texas school districts have the freedom to choose their own lesson plans. If the state-authored curriculum receives approval this week, the choice to adopt the materials will remain with districts. But the state will offer an incentive of $60 per student to districts that choose to adopt the lessons, which could appeal to some as schools struggle financially after several years without a significant raise in state funding.
Three Republicans — Evelyn Brooks, Patricia Hardy and Pam Little — joined the board’s four Democrats in opposition to the materials.
Leslie Recine — a Republican whom Gov. Greg Abbott appointed to temporarily fill the State Board of Education’s District 13 seat vacated by former member Aicha Davis, a Democrat who ran successfully for a Texas House seat earlier this year — voted for the curriculum. Abbott handpicked Recine, potentially a deciding vote on the materials, to fill the seat through the end of the year days before the general election, bypassing Democrat Tiffany Clark. A majority of District 13 residents voted this election for Clark to represent them on the board next year. She ran unopposed.
Board members who signaled their support for the curriculum said they believed the materials would help students improve their reading and understanding of the world. Members also said politics in no way influenced their vote and that they supported the materials because they believed it would best serve Texas children.
“In my view, these stories are on the education side and are establishing cultural literacy,” Houston Republican Will Hickman said. “And there's religious concepts like the Good Samaritan and the Golden Rule and Moses that all students should be exposed to.”
The proposed curriculum prompts teachers to relay the story of The Good Samaritan — a parable about loving everyone, including your enemies — to kindergarteners as an example of what it means to follow the Golden Rule. The story comes from the Bible, the lesson explains, and “was told by a man named Jesus” as part of his Sermon on the Mount, which included the phrase, “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” Many other religions have their own version of the Golden Rule." Texas Tribune
HOU CHRON: “Houston signs deal for $1.2 billion hydrogen hub” Houston Chronicle ($)
HOU CHRON: “Dozens arrested in Houston as part of Texas DPS 'clean scanning' bust” Houston Chronicle ($)
DMN: “Group stole nearly $5M worth of vehicles from DFW Airport, police say” DMN ($)
SAEN: “Freeman Martin is new Texas Department of Public Safety director” SAEN ($)
DMN: “Moody's gives Dallas a 'negative' debt outlook after Dallas Hero approval” DMN ($)
SAEN: “City to return $26 million to CPS Energy to hold down rate hikes” SAEN ($)
AAS: “Travis County judges, officials get $50K in security funds as DA José Garza faces battles” AAS ($)
HOU CHRON: “Whitmire, council change city law for new Houston Public Works head” Houston Chronicle ($)
SAEN: “San Antonio school district OKs terms to sell land for ballpark” SAEN ($)
TX TRIB: “Feds approve Texas' plan for $3 billion to expand broadband access” Texas Tribune
TX TRIB: “Trump's first Texas visit after historic Rio Grande Valley win spurs mix of excitement, trepidation” Texas Tribune
SAEN: “Texas carbon storage projects await Trump budget cuts” SAEN ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> DMN: "Will Texas students soon learn Christian stories in public schools?" DMN
> FWST: "Traveling for Thanksgiving in Texas? When you should hit the road to avoid traffic, AAA says" FWST
> TX TRIB: "Donald Trump boosted mental health efforts in Texas in his first term. Will he do it again?" TX TRIB
> HOU CHRON: "Trump picks Chris Wright for energy secretary. Here's what he said about Texas" HOU CHRON
> AP: "Trump and Musk solidify their bond with Texas trip for rocket launch" AP
> AP: "Texas board advances plan to allow Bible material in elementary school lessons" AP
> FWST: "This affordable housing complex near West 7th will be torn down and rebuilt" FWST
> SA REPORT: "State Board of Education signals support for Bible-infused curriculum" SA REPORT
> MY RGV: "Commissioner questions SpaceX stewardship as company pulls out of land deal" MY RGV
> DMN: "Can Dallas decriminalize weed? Some council members fear it’ll take a lawsuit to find out" DMN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Montgomery County finalizes creation of medical examiner's office" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Clear Creek ISD receives ‘A’ financial rating from state" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Austin readies to update long-term water resource, conservation plans" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "EastVillage expected to add dining, housing and retail options to Tech Ridge" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Single-family home sales, average price rise in Houston in October" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Frisco ISD to open enrollment for area students in 2025-26 school year" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "American Airlines to add non-stop flight to Italy out of DFW Airport" COMMUNITY IMPACT
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
> NBA: Dallas 132, New Orleans 91
> NBA: San Antonio 110, Oklahoma City 104
> NCAAM: Missouri State 78, UT-Arlington 68
> NCAAM: TCU 71, Alcorn State 48
> NCAAM: Rice 83, Louisiana 61
> NCAAM: #2 Connecticut 81, East Texas A&M 46
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: NBA: Indiana at Houston
> 7pm: NHL: San Jose at Dallas
> 7pm: NCAAM: Southern at #23 Texas A&M (SEC Network)
> 9pm: NCAAM: UTEP at UCSB (ESPN+)
TEXAS FOOTBALL: Bohls: "Texas football: The case for a 2-loss Longhorns team in CFP" Houston Chronicle ($)
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