Senate Bill 12 relates to “certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction and diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and to student clubs at public schools.” The bill sets guidelines for hiring and employment for school faculty, prohibits DEI programs and training, eliminates classroom instruction on gender identity and sexuality and bans LGBTQ+ student organizations from public schools.
Creighton filed SB 12, also known as the Parental Bill of Rights, to “[ensure] classrooms remain focused on education, not indoctrination,” according to a press release.
An initial draft of the bill penalized non-compliant school districts by withholding funding, but that version failed to pass. An amended version that dropped the funding aspect passed in a 20-11 vote. In a press release, Creighton said that SB 12 secures a parent's right to control the material their children are exposed to.
"Most parents consider it common sense that they should have full access to their child’s education, be informed of curriculum content, and should have a grievance process they can count on,” he said in the release. “Yet, in too many instances, these fundamental rights have been overlooked or undermined. SB 12 ensures that parental authority is not left to interpretation—it is firmly established in Texas law, safeguarding transparency, accountability, and a student-first approach in our schools.”
Legacy Student Organizations At Risk
The parts of SB 12 that are perhaps gaining the most pushback are its limitations on school clubs and organizations. The bill outright bans any club “based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” places heavy restrictions on race- and ethnicity-focused clubs and requires written parental permission for participation in student organizations. “In Texas, we trust parents, and we’re making sure they have a voice,” Creighton said in his press release about SB 12. “Parental rights in education are God given and Texas protected.”
LGBTQ+ organizations have long been a staple for queer students seeking community. They are also important for providing a safe space for students who have not disclosed their sexual orientation to their parents. According to the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), the preeminent organization for LGBTQ+ students with over 4,000 chapters spread across 40 states, their club has been proven to improve campus life.
“A growing body of research confirms that the presence of a GSA has a positive and lasting effect on student health, wellness, and academic performance,” reads the organization’s website. “It can also protect students from harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and improve school climates for all students in the long-term.”
If passed, the GSA and similar organizations would not be allowed in Texas public schools. The Black Student Union is another legacy organization facing significant change. The bill would limit educators who sponsor any race-related club, solely allowing them to operate in a “supervisory” role and preventing them from providing instruction.
Clay Robison, spokesperson for the Texas State Teachers Association, says organizations that serve diverse groups are essential to student life.
“Texas is a very diverse state, a fact that educators celebrate…These programs help ensure students of color, emergent bilingual learners, children from immigrant families, students with disabilities, LGBTQ students and others feel included on their campuses and receive the extra support they may need to stay in school,” he said.
Texas Politicians Back SB 12 And Creighton
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has praised the bill and Creighton, also an author of the school voucher bill that threatens public education funding. Patrick named both of the bills as some of his legislative priorities ahead of the session. “I prioritized SB 12 because parents must be empowered to have an even greater role in their children’s education,” said Patrick in a release about his support for SB 12. “With more parental input and empowerment, Texas students will be better served by the public education system. I thank Sen. Creighton for his continued commitment to improving public education in Texas.”
Patrick is not the only one touting the senator from the Houston area; Gov. Greg Abbott has frequently congratulated Creighton on the success of former bills and election campaigns. The governor, along with the lieutenant governor, prioritized the senator’s most controversial bill, Senate Bill 3, which seeks to establish a school voucher system in Texas.
SB 12 is pre-dated by a DEI rollback bill filed by Creighton in the 2023 legislative session, which eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs from college campuses. The bill closed DEI offices, caused scores of layoffs and eliminated programs and school class offerings across public college campuses in the state. Abbott has echoed his support for eliminating DEI programs in Texas and issued an executive order banning the initiatives within state agencies in January.
“DEI agendas divide us rather than unite us and have no place in the state of Texas,” said Abbott in the order. “These radical policies deviate from constitutional principles and deny diverse thought.”
The crackdown on DEI policy has affected many diverse groups and colleges across the state. However, Robison says the detriments faced by public school students carry a heavier burden.
“The political war against DEI initiatives may even prompt some school districts to end or cut back on classroom instruction that touches upon issues related to race, gender, diversity and equity, even though teaching about these topics has proven to provide positive changes in students’ attitudes and values,” he said. “Students of all backgrounds should be respected and given the ability to learn about all cultures and histories. State legislators should work to build strong, inclusive communities, not foster greater isolation for many students.”
