Bill > S2435

This bill, titled the "Rights of Parents and Guardians in Public Educational Instruction Act," grants parents and guardians the right to review learning materials and activities used for instruction in public schools, including school districts and charter schools, for students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. If a parent or guardian objects to any material or activity because they deem it "harmful" (defined as containing sexual content, violent content, or profane/vulgar language), they can request to withdraw their child from that specific activity or class and ask for an alternative assignment. To ensure these rights are upheld, the bill mandates that every school committee or charter school governing body must prominently display on their website, organized by subject and grade level, a comprehensive list of all learning materials and activities used for student instruction, including textbooks, videos, digital materials, websites, online applications, handouts, assemblies, guest lecturers, civics projects, internships, and other educational events. This information must be posted at least seven days before the school year begins or three days before the material is first used, and remain accessible until the end of the following school year. The bill also outlines procedures for handling complaints, starting with the school principal and potentially escalating to the school district or charter school governing body before legal action can be pursued, and includes provisions for charter schools to require waivers under certain conditions and for schools to obtain written consent for specific types of materials or instruction, such as those deemed inappropriate for age or sex education.

Education

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