Urgent: Proposed Legislation Impacting K-12 and Higher Education

On June 20, Governor Greg Abbott enacted Senate Bill 12 and SB 37, two legislative measures that pose serious risks to the fundamental rights of expression and inclusivity within K-12 and higher education. SB 12 outright bans the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in K-12 schools, while SB 37 undermines academic freedom in public colleges. The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) has voiced strong opposition to these bills, expressing serious apprehensions regarding their detrimental effects on Black students and educators in Texas.Jin Hee Lee, Director of Strategic Initiatives at LDF, emphasized that these bills threaten pivotal progress made in educational equity. SB 12 misconstrues diversity practices as discriminatory, hindering equal opportunities for marginalized students. Conversely, SB 37 transfers curriculum authority to politically-appointed boards, potentially stifling critical subjects related to Black history and systemic inequality. Allen Liu, LDF Policy Counsel, reiterated that both bills exacerbate existing barriers for underrepresented students, undermining the public education system essential for all Texans.