Minnesota Senate GOP Bills Would Require Disclosure Of Classroom Syllabus In Effort To Boost 'Parents' Rights' In Classroom
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Minnesota Senate Republicans on Monday announced education proposals they say will boost parents' involvement in the education decisions of their children, a move that follows a national trend of GOP-led legislatures scrutinizing classroom curriculum.
The package of legislation, dubbed a "Parents' Bill of Rights," requires teachers to disclose information about what's being taught by sending their syllabus within the first two weeks of class—and send an updated version should it significantly change. There's also a revived effort to establish education savings accounts allowing state funds to cover costs for private schools.
"Every parent has the right to know what's going on with their child in every classroom every day," said Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake.
But state law already requires that schools have procedures in place so parents can see learning materials and arrange for "alternative instruction" as needed. One of the bills requires that schools notify parents each school year that law empowers them to do this.
"This bill seems to be a solution in search of a problem," said Kendra Caduff, a teacher with Farmington Public Schools, during a Monday afternoon education committee hearing on the bills.
Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota. which represents 90,000 educations in the state, called the proposals an effort by politicians to "inflame division about what's taught about race and gender."
"Every educator I know welcomes conversations with parents about the lessons being taught in school, but GOP senators today presented a plan to drop a crushing amount of extra paperwork on already exhausted teachers without a plan for how it would work, how parents would use the information, or even if it was necessary," said Specht. "When mandating more work for every teacher in the state, the details matter."
Nationwide, Republicans are pushing for similar laws requiring publishing of classroom materials. The Wall Street Journal reported lawmakers in at least a dozen states are taking this approach, vowing transparency.
Other states have banned certain material from being taught, including in Iowa. In Wisconsin, there is also a bill that would give parents the right to review education materials.
Two Republicans running for governor, Benson and Sen. Paul Gazelka, were among the four Republicans who announced the legislation on Monday.
"These proposals keep parents involved in a child's education and keeps political activism out of the curriculum and decision-making," said Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, during a news conference.
In the Monday committee meeting, lawmakers removed what would have been the transformative piece of the GOP proposals, requiring school boards publicly publish on a school's website training materials for teachers, the full copy or text of learning materials—presentations, videos and audio recordings—and a list of books in the school library.
It would have empowered Minnesotans to pursue legal action if schools or districts failed to comply with these rules.
A spokeswoman for Senate Republicans said they struck that language because they didn't want to push "unfunded mandates" on schools.
An "anti-doxxing" bill introduced by Sen. Roger Chamberlain, the chair of the education committee, prohibits school boards from requiring testifiers at board meetings give their address or contact information.
