Bill could turn back page, return power to Texas board of ed

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The often-combative Texas Board of Education would expand its ability to reject textbooks it doesn't like, rolling back limits that have been in place for more than two decades, under a proposal on the verge of clearing the state Legislature.

Some fear the bill's benign language would, intentionally or not, return broad influence to a veteran bloc of social conservatives on the 15-member, elected board that's previously attempted to deemphasize lessons on evolution and climate change, and insist that publishers edit classroom materials to better conform to Republican ideology.

"Board members will take this bill as an open invitation to return to the days of almost unrestrained bullying of publishers to change or censor textbook content for purely political reasons," said Dan Quinn, a spokesman for the Texas Freedom Network, a board watchdog group and frequent critic.

After the media called attention to the move, the Senate took the unusual step of returning hours later and amending its already passed legislation to remove that expansion.