Bill > S4086

Introduced Session

This bill prohibits a school district from including, as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or instructional program, or allowing teachers or other employees of the school district to use supplemental instructional materials that promote concepts related to critical race theory. For purposes of the bill, "critical race theory" includes, but would not be limited to, any of the following concepts:· one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;· an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously;· an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of the individual's race or sex;· an individual's moral character is determined by the individual's race or sex;· an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;· an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or another form of psychological distress solely because of the individual's race or sex;· a meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist, or designed by a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex;· the State or the United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist;· promoting or advocating the violent overthrow of the United States government;· promoting division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class, or class of people;· ascribing character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of the individual's race or sex;· the rule of law does not exist, but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups;· all Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; or· governments should deny to any person within the government's jurisdiction the equal protection of the law. A school district would not be prohibited from including, as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or instructional program, or from allowing teachers in a school district to use supplemental instructional materials that include the history of an ethnic group, the impartial discussion of controversial aspects of history, the impartial instruction on the historical oppression of a particular group of people based on race, ethnicity, class, nationality, religion, or geographic region, or historical documents. The Commissioner of Education would be permitted to withhold State funds from a school district that knowingly violates the provisions of this bill and would be able to continue withholding such funds until the commissioner finds that the school district is in compliance. This bill also requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules and regulations prohibiting public school teachers from engaging in political, ideological, or religious advocacy in the classroom. The State board would further be required to adopt rules and regulations requiring that a teacher provide students with materials supporting both sides of a controversial issue being addressed and to present both sides in a fair-minded and nonpartisan manner.

Committee Categories

Joe Pennacchio (R)*,  Mike Testa (R)*,  Parker Space (R), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 02/03/2025)

Official Document