Texas Bill Would Exempt Creation Institue Among Others From State Licensing

Fox News reported earlier this week that a Texas state legislator has introduced HB 2800 that would exempt private, non-profit educational institutions that do not accept state funding from the authority of the Texas' Higher Education Coordinating Board. Currently Texas Education Code, Sec. 61.304, requires all private post-secondary educational institutions to obtain a certificate of authority form the Board before they can award degrees. The proposed bill was introduced by State Rep. Leo Berman after The Institute for Creation Research (ICR )was denied a certificate of authority to grant Master of Science degrees. ICR focuses on Biblical creationism. Berman says that creationism is as scientific as evolution and should be given equal treatment in the educational community. A spokesman for the Higher Education Coordinating Board said that the proposal would "open the doors of Texas to predatory institutions." [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]