EHBK - SPECIAL PROGRAMS: OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL INITIATIVES

CHARACTER EDUCATION

The School may provide a character education program, which must:

1. Stress positive character traits, such as:
2. Courage;
3. Trustworthiness, including honesty, reliability, punctuality, and loyalty;
4. Integrity;
5. Respect and courtesy;
6. Responsibility, including accountability, diligence, perseverance, and self-control;
7. Fairness, including justice and freedom from prejudice;
8. Caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion, consideration, patience, generosity, and charity;
9. Good citizenship, including patriotism, concern for the common good and the community, and respect for authority and the law; and
10. School pride;
11. Use integrated teaching strategies; and
12. Be age appropriate.

In developing or selecting a character education program under this section, the School shall consult with a committee selected by the School that consists of parents of School students, educators, and other members of the community, including community leaders.

The provisions above do not require or authorize proselytizing or indoctrinating concerning any specific religious or political belief.

Education Code 29.906

TEXAS FIRST RESPONDERS DAY

The School shall regularly observe Texas First Responders Day, September 11, by appropriate ceremonies. The School may determine the appropriate ceremonies for observation of Texas First Responders Day.

Gov't Code 662.050

CONSTITUTION DAY

If the School receives federal funds for a fiscal year, the School shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the district.

Public Law 108-447 (2004)

CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK

To educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom in the founding of this country and the values on which this country was founded, the week in which November 11 falls is designated as Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools. For purposes of this section, Sunday is considered the first day of the week.

Education Code 29.907

APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION

Each social studies class shall include, during Celebrate Freedom Week or during another full school week as determined by the board, appropriate instruction concerning the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, in their historical context.

The study of the Declaration of Independence must include the study of the relationship of the ideas expressed in that document to subsequent American history, including the relationship of its ideas to the rich diversity of our people as a nation of immigrants, the American Revolution, the formulation of the United States Constitution, and the abolitionist movement, which led to the Emancipation Proclamation and the women's suffrage movement.

19 TAC 74.33(a)

RECITATION

The School shall require that, during Celebrate Freedom Week or other prescribed week of instruction, students in grades 3-12 study and recite the following text: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their Just Powers from the Consent of the Governed."

EXCEPTION

The School shall excuse from recitation a student:

1. Whose parent or guardian submits to the district a written request that the student be excused;
2. Who, as determined by the district, has a conscientious objection to the recitation; or
3. Who is the child of a representative of a foreign government to whom the United States government extends diplomatic immunity.

19 TAC 74.33(b)

WOMEN'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

August 26 is Women's Independence Day, to commemorate the ratification in 1920 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. The School shall regularly observe Women's Independence Day to inspire a greater appreciation of the importance of women's suffrage.

Government Code 662.051

HATE CRIMES LAW PROGRAM

The attorney general, in cooperation with TEA, shall develop a program that provides instruction about state hate crimes laws to students at appropriate grade levels. TEA shall make the program available on request of the board or the School.

Education Code 29.905

CPR INSTRUCTION

To the extent that resources are available, through TEA or otherwise, a district shall provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction to students.

If the School provides instruction to students in the principles and techniques of CPR, the School may accept from TEA donations the agency receives under Education Code 7.026. The School must use those donations in providing instruction to students in the principles and techniques of CPR.

The School may accept other donations, including donations of equipment, for use in providing CPR instruction.

Education Code 29.903

The School is strongly encouraged to aggressively pursue donations of time, equipment, and other resources necessary to implement these provisions. The CPR instruction should conform to nationally recognized guidelines.

Acts 2001, 77th Leg., R.S., Ch. 814, Sec. 3

Adopted: 1/28/05

Amended: 11/18/05

Reviewed: