Texas Senate passes bill banning schools from requiring critical race theory teaching

The Texas Senate approved legislation Saturday that would ban schools from requiring critical race theory in their teaching curriculum.

The bill must return to the state House, where it passed earlier this month, after senators made changes after a contentious debate. 

Texas Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick hailed the passage, saying the bill “makes certain that critical race philosophies, including the 1619 founding myth, are removed from our school curriculums statewide.”

“When parents send their children to school, they want their students to learn critical thinking without being indoctrinated with misinformation charging that America and our Constitution are rooted in racism," he said.

Critical race theory curriculum teaches that racism is systemic in America, a viewpoint many parents and Republicans dispute.