November 10-14, 2008

The 77th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1776, which required, during a designated week, each social studies class to include 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 contexts. Since the passage of HB 1776, both the Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code have been amended to change the date of Celebrate Freedom week to the week in which November 11th (Veterans Day) falls.

From the Texas Administrative Code §74.33

(a)   Instruction during Celebrate Freedom Week. Each social studies class shall include, during Celebrate Freedom Week as provided under Texas Education Code, §29.907, or during another full school week as determined by the board of trustees of a school district, 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 contexts. 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.

(b) Recitation during Celebrate Freedom Week.

(1) Each school district shall require that, during Celebrate Freedom Week or other week of instruction prescribed under subsection (a) of this section, 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."

(2) Each school district shall excuse from the recitation a student:

(A) whose parent or guardian submits to the district a written request that the student be excused;

(B) who, as determined by the district, has a conscientious objection to the recitation; or

(C) who is the child of a representative of a foreign government to whom the United States government extends diplomatic immunity.

The Social Studies Center (Texas Education Agency)