Articles by Katharine Frey
Texas schools may start using a Bible-infused curriculum as soon as this school year after the state Education Board narrowly approved it Friday. The state-authored Bluebonnet Learning curriculum includes various Bible lessons such as “the Good Samaritan and the Golden Rule and Moses that all students should be exposed to,” said Board member Will Hickman, the Texas Tribune reported.
Virginia education agency proposes new history standards in public schools
The Virginia Department of Education proposed new standards on November 11, 2022, that aim to provide guidance to the state’s public schools on the Glenn Youngkin administration’s (R) preferred approaches to teaching Virginia and U.S. history. Every seven years, the Virginia Department of Education is required to update its History and Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL).
Richland school board enacts new policy on race in U.S. history lessons
The Richland School Board in Washington state, which governs the 583rd largest school district in the country with 14,221 students, voted 4-1 on October 25, 2022, to adopt Policy 2360, which specifies how teachers can discuss race in U.S. history lessons. It is one of several recent responses to trends in curriculum development tracked on Ballotpedia.
Arkansas school board requires students to use bathroom consistent with sex assigned at birth
The school board for the Conway School District in Arkansas on October 11, 2022, unanimously approved policies regarding gender identity in public schools. One of the policies requires that students use the restroom that matches their sex assigned at birth, though each district school must provide an accommodation to any individual who does not want to comply with the policy.
Richmond school board passes transgender protection resolution in response to Virginia Department of Education’s transgender student policy
The Richmond City School Board, which oversees Richmond Public Schools (RPS) in Richmond, Virginia, voted 8-1 on October 2, 2022, to approve a resolution rejecting the Virginia Department of Education’s policy on transgender students.
Ohio school board passes resolution opposing state’s gender identity policy
The Toledo Public School District (TPS) in Ohio voted unanimously to pass a resolution on October 10, 2022, that rejects the Ohio State Board of Education’s (SBOE) resolution on gender identity policies in public schools. SBOE member Brendan Shea introduced the SBOE’s resolution on September 20, 2022, in opposition to the Biden administration’s (D) guidance aiming to expand Title IX’s discrimination protections to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
Texas State Board of Education approves changes to social studies curriculum
The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) on September 26, 2022, voted 8-5 to approve changes to public education curriculum guidelines that aim to align with the requirements set forth in Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) concerning instruction about race in social studies curriculum.
Virginia education agency proposes policies to clarify approaches to transgender students in public schools
The Virginia Department of Education proposed new policies on September 16, 2022, that aim to provide guidance to the state’s public schools on the Youngkin administration’s preferred approaches to transgender students. The new policies depart from former Democratic Governor Ralph Northam’s administration guidelines, which encouraged schools to let students use names and pronouns aligning with their gender identity without formal documentation.
Washington school board passes new curriculum guidelines on U.S. history and race topics Original
The Kennewick School Board in Washington state unanimously voted to adopt a new set of curriculum guidelines on Aug. 24 that aim to restrict teachings on U.S. history and race. Kennewick School Board passed a new policy, known as Policy 2340, that would prohibit teachings that the U.S. is fundamentally or systemically racist or that a group of people is inherently racist, oppressed, or victims.
Washington school board passes new curriculum guidelines on U.S. history and race topics
The Kennewick School Board in Washington state unanimously voted to adopt a new set of curriculum guidelines on August 24, 2022, that aim to restrict teachings on U.S. history and race. Kennewick School Board passed a new policy, known as Policy 2340, that would prohibit teachings that the U.S. is fundamentally or systemically racist or that a group of people is inherently racist, oppressed, or victims.
Texas school district limits discussions of race and gender, pronoun use, and certain books Original
The Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District in Texas on Aug. 22 approved a policy by a 4-3 vote that would limit classroom discussions of race and gender, pronoun use, and certain library materials.
Texas school district limits discussions of race and gender, pronoun use, and certain books
The Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District in Texas on August 22, 2022, approved a policy by a 4-3 vote that would limit classroom discussions of race and gender, pronoun use, and certain library materials.
Parents sue Tennessee school district over curriculum including race and gender topics
A parent group on July 8, 2022, filed a lawsuit in the Twenty-First Judicial District against Tennessee education officials and the Williamson County school district for allegedly violating state laws restricting teachings on race and gender. Tennessee House Bill 580 aims to prohibit school districts from incorporating materials into the curriculum that portray the United States as racist or sexist, or that make students feel uncomfortable because of their race or sex.
Federal judge blocks Biden administration guidance on transgender students
A federal judge from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee on July 15, 2022, struck down a Department of Education order that aims to protect transgender students and workers from discrimination. The Biden administration released the challenged guidance in response to recent legislation passed by states that aim to bar transgender students from participating on school sports teams and using bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity.
Ninth Circuit greenlights Arizona challenge to federal tax mandate (2022)
Ninth Circuit greenlights Arizona challenge to federal tax mandate (2022) June 10, 2022 at 6:48 PM A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on May 19, 2022, ruled 3-0 that Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) has standing to challenge the constitutionality of the federal tax mandate under the American Rescue Plan Act..
South Carolina governor signs bill barring transgender youth from participating in public school and collegiate women’s sports
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) signed a bill into law on May 16, 2022, that prohibits transgender students from participating in women’s sports at public schools and colleges in the state. The new law requires students to play on sports teams that match the gender assigned on their birth certificates. The South Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 4608 by a vote of 70 to 33.
North Carolina legislature proposes LGBTQ curriculum ban in grades K-3
A North Carolina Senate proposed bill was amended on May 24, 2022, to prohibit public schools from teaching LGBTQ curriculum in kindergarten through third grade. The bill, titled the Parents’ Bill of Rights, requires K-12 public schools and local school boards to adopt procedures that notify parents of a change in their child’s mental or physical health.
New Oklahoma law governs bathroom use in public schools
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) on May 25, 2022, signed a bill into law requiring transgender students to use the restroom that matches their sex assigned at birth. Senate Bill 615 passed the House with a vote of 69-14 and the Senate by a vote of 38-7. The law governs the use of multiple-occupancy restrooms in the state’s public and charter schools.
Mellen School District votes to prohibit race from being discussed during American history lessons
The Mellon School Board in Wisconsin voted on April 20, 2022, to adopt a new policy to prohibit race from being discussed during American history lessons. This decision follows a vote in March that barred subjects such as critical race theory, religion, sexual orientation, privilege, empathy, and political orientation from being taught in classrooms. The school board’s new policy adopted its language following survey responses from parents.
Tennessee legislature passes bill to prohibit teaching certain divisive concepts in higher education
The Tennessee legislature on March 30 passed a bill that aims to prohibit an individual’s views on critical race theory from influencing decisions about hiring, tenure, promotion, or graduation in the state’s higher education institutions. House Bill 2670 would “prohibit a public institution of higher education from taking certain actions with regard to divisive concepts and the ideologies or political viewpoints of students and employees.” Tennessee state Rep.
Minnesota lawmakers vote on Parental Bill of Rights education bills
The Minnesota State Senate March passed three education bills promoted by Republican state senators as part of what is described as the Parental Bill of Rights. The bills aim to increase parental access to instructional materials in public schools and prevent what is characterized as harassment of parents who testify at school board meetings. One of the bills, sponsored by state Sen. Paul Gazelka (R) of East Gull Lake, passed the Senate by a 37-30 vote on March 3.
Indiana lawmakers forgo bill restricting school library materials
The Indiana State Legislature struck down a bill on March 9 that would have prevented students from accessing materials containing what the bill’s proponents deemed controversial topics in school libraries. House Bill 1369, authored by state Rep. Bob Morris (R), originally aimed to modify current sentencing guidelines for inmates.
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