Relating to civics instruction in public schools, including certain instructional requirements, civics training programs, and the essential knowledge and skills for the public school foundation curriculum and social studies curriculum.

SB 1284 requires Texas public schools to implement civics training for teachers and update civics instruction in the social studies curriculum. It mandates training programs covering essential civic knowledge (including American self-government foundations and government structures), media literacy skills (verifying information, identifying fallacies), guided discussions on current events that prioritize unity, and classroom simulations of democratic processes. The bill also requires teachers to incorporate civics into non-social studies subjects and connect students with nonpartisan community volunteer opportunities. These changes apply to public school teachers and students in grades where the State Board of Education revises social studies curriculum under Section 28.002(h-2).