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Education Legislation

Education Key Legislation – 2024

  • Republican House Representatives In Kansas Introduced Legislation To Fine Public Colleges And Universities $100,000 If They Compel Students Or Employees To Sign A DEI Statement. [Kansas Legislature, 2023-2024 Legislative Session, HB 2460, Passed in Committee 3/11/24; Kansas Reflector, 3/5/24]
  • Kentucky Republican Legislators PassedLegislation To Allow University Students And Employees To Sue If They Believe They Have Been Discriminated Against Due To Their “Refusal To Support Or Endorse Any Divisive Concept.” [Kentucky General Assembly, 2024 Regular Session, SB6, passed in the House 3/15/24]
  • Republican Legislators In Missouri Introduced Legislation To Ban School Employees From Using Students’ Preferred Pronouns Unless They Have Written Permission From The Student’s Parent; The Bill Also Bans Schools From Requiring Employees To Use A Student’s Preferred Pronouns. [Missouri House of Representatives, 2023-2024 Session, HB1405, introduced 1/4/24]
  • Idaho Republican Legislators Introduced A “Parental Choice” Tax Credit Proposal To Fund Parents Sending Students To Private Schools. [Idaho Capital Sun, 1/7/24] 
  • Republican Senators in Pennsylvania Advanced Legislation That Would Require Schools To Provide A List Of Sexually Explicit Content In The School’s Curriculum, Materials, or Books. [74 Million, 10/29/23] 
  • Virginia Democratic Lawmakers Passed  A Bill To Provide Free School Meals For All Public School Students Sending The Bill To The Governor. [Virginia General Assembly, SB 283, House substitute agreed by Senate, 3/5/24]
  • A Republican-Sponsored Bill In New Hampshire To Allow The State Board Of Education To Remove Books From Schools Was Defeated In The House. [WKBK, 2/19/24]
  • Arizona Senate Republicans PassedA Bill To Require Public Schools To Notify Students’ Parents If The Student Uses Pronouns That Differ From Their Biological Sex Or A Name Not Listed In School Records. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB 1166, passed in the Senate 2/26/24] 
  • Lawmakers In Michigan Passed A Bill Aimed At Protecting Foster Care Children And Ensuring They Have Access To Quality Education; The Bill Was Signed By The Governor. [Michigan Legislature, 2023-2024 Legislative Session, HB4677, approved by the Governor 2/27/24]

 

Education Key Legislation – 2023

Alaska

  • Senate Democrats Said They Would Not Hear Bills In Their Committees Limiting Sexual Education, Bathroom Ban Bills, Or Bills Requiring Parental Permission For Students To Use A Different Name Or Pronouns. “That proposal was immediately rejected by Sen. Löki Tobin, an Anchorage Democrat who chairs the Senate Education Committee. Tobin said she would not hear the bill in her committee, and that the bipartisan majority that controls the chamber has vowed to steer away from divisive social issues. ‘I don’t need to hear people justify discrimination,’ Tobin said, calling the governor’s proposal ‘the most divisive piece of legislation you’ll possibly hear in the Alaska State Legislature this year.’” [Anchorage Daily News, 3/7/23]

Arizona

  • Republican Lawmakers In Both Chambers Passed A Bill To Ban Schools From Teaching “Specified Concepts Relating To Race And Ethnicity.” “A controversial “critical race theory” bill has now reached Governor Hobbs’ desk. Senate Bill 1305 would ban K-12 schools from teaching “critical race theory” to students and punish schools with a $5,000 fine per violation if they do.There’s a high chance Gov. Hobbs will veto this. Critical race theory was used during this past election cycle as a huge point of contention in the education world. Republicans who support this bill said critical race theory is a radical, leftist worldview harmful to our youth. Those who disagree with the bill said the bottom line is: critical race theory is not being taught to Arizona students and doesn’t exist.” [AZ Family, 3/6/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB1305, Transmitted to Governor 3/6/23]
    • Gov. Hobbs Vetoed The Legislation. “Ending instruction about racism in America has become a plank for the modern Republican Party in Arizona and across the country. ‘It is time to stop utilizing students and teachers in culture wars based on fearmongering and unfounded accusations,’ Hobbs wrote in a letter explaining the veto. ‘Bills like SB1305 only serve to divide and antagonize. I urge the Legislature to work with me on the real issues affecting Arizona schools: underfunded classrooms, a growing educator retention crisis, and school buildings in need of repair and replacement.’” [AZ Mirror, 3/9/23]
  • A Bill That Would Prohibit Judges From Requiring Parents To Pay Any Fees Or Damages If They Lose A Lawsuit Against A School Or Teacher Was Passed By Republican Lawmakers “Senate Bill 1005 prohibits a judge from requiring parents to pay any attorneys fees or damages after losing a lawsuit against a school or teacher. The proposal builds on a law passed by the Republican majority last year allowing parents to sue if they think their fundamental rights were “usurped”. Arizona has a parent’s bill of rights, which includes the right to “direct the upbringing, education, health care and mental health” of their children. […] But Democratic Sen. Mitzi Epstein wasn’t convinced. Penalties, she said, exist to dissuade frivolous lawsuits that waste time and money — resources that schools have in short supply. Epstein noted that, in her time as a legislator and during her tenure as a member of the Kyrene school governing board, she’s never heard of any district’s financial ability to hire highly paid lawyers. […] Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, a former school teacher, questioned whether the bill’s exception would still leave a lot of room for unfounded lawsuits to be filed, and worried that the threat of a lawsuit without repercussions could negatively impact how teachers approach lesson plans.” [AZ Mirror, 1/19/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1005, Transmitted to Governor 4/5/23]
    • The Bill Was Vetoed By Gov. Hobbs. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1005, Vetoed 4/11/23]
  • Senate Republicans Passed A Bill That Would Allow Parents To Request Books Be Removed From School Libraries, And Prohibits Books That “Promote Gender Fluidity Or Gender Pronouns Or That Groom Children Into Normalizing Pedophilia.” “If the bill was to become law, then the Arizona Department of Education would be tasked with creating a list of banned books and reviewing complaints submitted by parents wishing to have a book taken out of a school. The parent must explain in their complaint how the book is lewd, sexual, promotes gender fluidity, or normalizes pedophilia. If the Department of Education agrees with the parent, then the agency will add the title to its banned book list. The bill would additionally require all Arizona school districts to exclude learning materials that are “lewd, sexual in nature, that promote gender fluidity, or gender pronouns, or that groom children into normalizing pedophilia.” [12 News, 3/20/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1700, passed Senate 3/20/23]
  • Proposals Are Being Made By House Democrats To Appropriate Funding To Provide Free Breakfasts And Lunches For Students In K-12 Public Or Charter Schools. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2238, introduced 1/23/23]

Arkansas

  • Republican Lawmakers Passed Legislation Expanding The FORUM Act, Including Not Specifically Not Requiring The Use Of Correct Pronouns, Changing The Definition Of A Public Forum From Outdoor-Only By Adding Indoor Areas And From Members Of The Campus Community By Adding Anyone On The Campus. [SB125, Arkansas Legislature, Delivered to Governor 4/6/23]

Colorado

  • Democrats In The Colorado House Passed A Bill To Address Colorado’s Rural Teacher Shortage. “House Bill 1001 — the first bill introduced of the session — would update existing stipend programs to include student educators who have slightly higher family incomes and who teach outside of Colorado but within 100 miles of the state border. The bill would also change the state’s educator loan forgiveness program to include principals and special services providers. ‘We’re tackling Colorado’s teacher shortage through a multi-faceted approach, and that includes breaking down financial barriers future educators face while entering the workforce,’ said bill sponsor Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. ‘Investing in our teachers strengthens our schools and supports our students.’” [Colorado Politics, 2/2/23] 

Connecticut

  • Republican Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Prohibit Teaching Concepts Related To Race Or Gender Inequalities. [SB280, Connecticut General Assembly, Session Year 2023, 1/18/23]

Florida

  • Republican Lawmakers Introduced Three Bills To Expand On The State’s “Don’t Say Gay” Law, Including Expanding The Grade Level Restrictions Through 8th Grade, Placing Restrictions On Teachers Sharing Their Pronouns Or Asking Students About Theirs, And Prohibiting Certain Concepts Around Sex Education Before 6th Grade. “The current law bans public school teachers and districts from discussing gender identity and sexuality in kindergarten through third grade classrooms — citing the “fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding upbringing and control of their children.” It faced extensive pushback from both parents and LGBTQ+ advocates. The three Florida house bills — H.B. 1223, H.B. 1069, and [S.B.] 1320 — all take aim at different aspects of gender and sexuality education in the state.” [CBS, 3/8/23]
    • Lawmakers Passed H.B. 1069, Which Expands Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Law. “Among its provisions, the bill requires schools to teach ‘that sex is determined by biology and reproductive function at birth; that biological males impregnate biological females by fertilizing the female egg with male sperm; that the female then gestates the offspring; and that these reproductive roles are binary, stable, and unchangeable.’ The bill bars schools from requiring students or employees to refer to each other with pronouns that do not align with their assigned sex at birth. It will also prohibit trans school employees from sharing their pronouns with students.” [NBC, 5/17/23]

Georgia

  • Georgia Republican Lawmakers Introduced A Bill That Could Criminalize School Librarians Who Loaned Books That Were Found To Be Obscene To Students. “Several Georgia Senate Republican leaders are backing legislation that would criminalize school librarians who let students check out books found to be obscene. State law currently shields the gatekeepers at public libraries — plus those at any school, college or university — from criminal prosecution for sharing materials considered irredeemably sexually explicit. Senate Bill 154 by Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Alpharetta, would remove school librarians from that exemption, exposing them to a misdemeanor ‘of a high and aggravated nature.’” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/16/23]
    • SB 154 Did Not Advance Before Crossover Day. [SB 154, 2023 Legislative Session, accessed 3/10/23]
  • The Republican-Majority Senate Passed A Bill To Create A Voucher Program And Spend Public Dollars On Private Education. “Republicans in the Georgia Senate passed legislation Monday that would expand private school vouchers to general public school students. Senate Bill 233, which now goes to the state House, would give $6,000 a year in state funds to the parents of each child who opts for private schooling. The money could be used for tuition and many other education-related costs as long as those parents assume full responsibility for their child’s education. “ [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/6/23]
    • The Bill Failed In The House And Was Not Revived Before The Session Ended. “Such measures have come in front of state lawmakers annually, but none have made it as far as SB 233. It passed the Senate in early March but stalled in the House, despite a last-minute push this week from Gov. Brian Kemp. […] The vote against SB 233 was 89-85, with one Democrat in favor and at least a dozen Republicans opposed. Republicans quickly called for a vote to reconsider. It passed by a wide margin, meaning the measure might have come up again in the waning hours of this year’s legislative session. It did not, but this is the first year in a two-year session, so the bill will be waiting when lawmakers return in January.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/30/23]

Illinois

  • Democratic Lawmakers Have Proposed Legislation To To Withhold State Grants To Public Libraries That Ban Books Due To Discrimination Or Partisanship. “The measure is sponsored in the House by state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, a Democrat of Naperville, who said book bans have been particularly discriminatory against groups of people who are already marginalized in American society. ‘Whether they’re part of the LGBTQ community or their race or ethnicity, those are the books that are being targeted by right-wingers to be banned,’ she said. ‘We absolutely want to be doing everything possible to stand up for the librarians and stand up for the students and children and all library patrons to be able to access the materials that they should be able to access in a public library.’” [Chicago Tribune, 3/8/23]

Indiana

  • Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill Banning The Teaching About Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity In Grades K-3. [HB1608, Indiana General Assembly, Signed by the Governor, 5/4/23]

Iowa

  • Republican Lawmakers Passed School Choice Legislation That Was Signed By The Governor, Creating Tax-Funded Education Savings Accounts That Can Be Used To Pay For Private And Religious Schools. “Democrats have criticized Republicans over the cost of the plan, following multiple years when the public school funding increase approved by GOP lawmakers fell short of what advocates said was necessary to keep up with increasing costs. ‘Until we are willing to provide adequate funding for the vast majority of our public school students, we should not be creating a private, exclusive school entitlement program with unknown costs and unlimited funding — a blank check,’  said Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, a teacher for more than 30 years in Cedar Rapids schools.” [Iowa Public Radio, 1/24/23]

Kansas

  • Republican Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Incentivize Parents To Send Children To Private Schools By Establishing A Tax Credit For Children Not Enrolled In Public School. [SB128, Kansas Legislature, 2023-2024 Legislative Sessions, introduced 1/31/23; HB2218, Kansas Legislature, 2023-2024 Legislative Sessions, introduced 1/30/23]
    • House Republicans Bundled The Education Savings Accounts Bill With Democratic Governor Kelly’s Budget Requests For Increased Funding For Special Education And Raising Teacher Salaries. “Rep. Valdenia Winn, a Democrat from Kansas City, said money for private schools was inserted into the bill despite hundreds of people expressing opposition. She condemned GOP committee leaders — the chairwoman is Augusta Rep. Kristey Williams — for allegedly failing to maintain decorum during public hearings and for purportedly neglecting to respect what it meant to be a public servant in the Legislature. ‘Do public servants silence opposition? Do they amplify misinformation?’ Winn said. ‘I’m constantly concerned about achievement, but I don’t attack the teachers. I don’t try to take funding from public schools. The whole process was disingenuous, which is a word that we use up here for not telling the truth, for telling lies.’” [Kansas Reflector, 3/7/23]
      • The Proposal Failed In The Senate. “The Legislature canned a much-debated voucher program that would allow unregulated private schools to receive state dollars and put federal COVID-19 relief funds toward special education. The measure narrowly passed the House by 65-58 Thursday and failed in the Senate by 17-20 early Friday, following heated late-night speeches from Democrats and Republicans.” [Kansas Reflector, 4/7/23]

Maine

  • Republican Legislators Are Working On A Proposal For A “Parent’s Bill Of Rights.” “‘If there’s curriculum there that parents don’t agree with, then they can say, ‘Nope, I’m opting out of this,’ Senator Lisa Keim (R-Oxford) said. […] ‘There should be a really accessible way for parents to have oversight of what books are in the library, they should have that easily accessible for themselves so they can say, ‘OK, I approve of this,’ or ‘I don’t approve of this,’ Keim said. […] State Democrats agree with the importance of parental involvement, however they also stress the importance of working with the experts on school curriculum. ‘Everyone believes in parental involvement,’ Daughtry said. ‘I don’t think that’s a subject of disagreement, but we need to be working with our teachers and trusting our school boards. We have local systems who are working on curriculum that are well proven.’” [Fox23 Maine, 1/31/23]
    • The Bill Failed In The House. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 1953, Ought Not to Pass, 6/21/23]
  • Senate Republicans Introduced A Bill To Ban Educational Materials That Contain “Obscene Matter.” [Maine Legislature, 131st First Regular Session, LD123, accessed 2/8/23]
    • The Bill Failed In The House. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 123, Ought Not to Pass, 6/13/23]
  • Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Strengthen Confidentiality Protections For School Counselors. “The national debate over balancing “parents’ rights” with those of students who confide personal information with school counselors spilled into the Maine Senate on Tuesday. Majority Democrats advanced a Department of Education rule that codifies new confidentiality standards for counselors, but not before Republicans argued that it allows students and counselors to keep secrets from their parents. […] ‘We need to have the discretion to keep that confidentiality for those students so that they feel safe enough to come back and let us know when it’s something real, when it’s something big and it’s something scary,’ Reny said. ‘This job is not about hurting kids. It’s not about cutting parents out. Education is a team sport.’” [Maine Public Radio, 5/23/23]
    • The Bill Passed And Was Signed By Gov. Mills. [State of Maine Legislature, 131st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, LD 394, Signed by the Governor, 6/8/23]

Michigan

  • Democratic Lawmakers Passed A Bill That Would Roll Back An Existing Policy Stating Students Who Are Not Reading At Grade Level By Third Grade Should Be Held Back. The bill is supported by the K-12 Alliance of Michigan. [Michigan Radio, 1/19/23; Michigan Legislature, SB0012, ordered enrolled 3/8/23]
    • Gov. Whitmer Signed The Legislation. “‘I am happy to see the Governor sign Senate Bill 12 to finally repeal the harmful retention aspect of the Read by Grade Three Law,’ said State Representative Nate Shannon (D-Sterling Heights). ‘Rather than being reactive, let’s be proactive in our approach to kids and literacy.  Retention has been a constant threat hanging over our students’ heads. We could use the resources that are spent on retaining students and put that towards more literacy coaches, reading intervention specialists, and provide afterschool and summer school programs to address the issue.’” [Press Releases, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, 3/24/23]
  • Democratic Lawmakers Passed And Gov. Whitmer Signed A Bill To Change How Public Schools Are Ranked. “Introduced by state Rep. Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, House Bill 4166 would revise 1976 PA 451 to eliminate the requirement for the Michigan Department of Education to assign letter grades to public schools based on student performance. Under the current law, the MDOE is required to annually rank Michigan public schools by Sept. 1 on a variety of metrics and implement accountability measures for schools ranked in the bottom 5%. If the bill is signed into law, the MDOE would rank schools on a list of individual metrics instead of assigning an overall letter grade. […] When introducing the bill, Koleszar said the current law too heavily generalizes school performance across the state. ‘The A through F system has also been criticized by many school officials, citing that it is too simplistic and could unfairly hit schools with a bad grade overall when the school is improving in some areas,’ Koleszar said. ‘It is also argued that the system is overly general.’” [The Michigan Daily, 4/30/23; Michigan Legislature, 2023 Session, HB 4166, Approved by the Governor, 5/22/23]

Minnesota

  • The Minnesota House Passed Legislation To Guarantee Free Lunch And Breakfast To All Minnesota Students, Regardless Of Income. “The Minnesota House passed a bill on Thursday guaranteeing free lunch and breakfast to all Minnesota students, regardless of income requirements set by a federal program. It’s a move advocates say will reduce child hunger and ensure no kid falls through the cracks. The vote was 70-58.” [CBS News Minnesota, 2/9/23]
    • The Bill Would Require Minnesota To Pay The Gap Between Federal Funding And The Cost Of Meals Regardless Of A Family’s Income And Barred Charging Students For Lunch. “Minnesota schools receive federal funding from the National School Lunch Program through reimbursements for each meal served, though it doesn’t cover the cost of the entire meal. This bill would require Minnesota to pay the gap between federal funding and the cost of the meals regardless of a family’s income and bars schools from charging students. Students currently can apply for free or reduced lunch, but bill advocates say the paperwork is a headache for schools and many families who would benefit from free lunch don’t meet the strict guidelines.” [Minnesota Reformer, 1/12/23]
      • The Governor Signed The Legislation. [Minnesota Reformer, 3/17/23]

Missouri

  • Republican Lawmakers Introduced Legislation Banning “Critical Race Theory” And Certain Concepts Around Race Inequality From Being Taught In K-12, And Also Requires The Department Of Elementary And Secondary Education To Develop A Training Program On “Patriotism,” And Offers Bonuses To Teachers Who Complete The Training. “Missouri lawmakers are considering new legislation aimed at prohibiting the teaching of so-called critical race theory in its public grade schools – even though the state’s largest teachers’ union says the concept is not presently a part of schools’ curricula – and requiring the state to develop a training program to teach American patriotism. […] Spokesmen for the state’s largest teachers’ unions condemned the proposed legislation. ‘If you were to look at curriculum for Missouri schools, you would not see any mention of critical race theory,’ Todd Fuller, a spokesperson for the Missouri State Teachers Association, told CNN. ‘CRT debate takes away from the real issue Missouri is facing: how do we keep and retain quality teachers? If we don’t have teachers to teach, curriculum will be the least of our problems.’” [CNN, 1/20/23]
  • House Republicans Voted In Favor Of Banning State Government Spending On DEI Programs. “Missouri’s Republican-led House on Tuesday voted to ban state government spending on diversity, equity and inclusion, including at public colleges and universities. […] Democrats called the bans racist and prejudiced. ‘This amendment is very dangerous,’ St. Louis Democratic Rep. Marlene Terry said. ‘It’s taking us back to the Jim Crow laws. We need to pay attention.’” [AP News, 3/29/23]
    • The Ban On DEI Program Spending Did Not Make It Into The Senate Version Of The Budget. [Missouri Independent, 4/19/23]
  • House Republicans Voted To Defund All State Public Libraries After A Lawsuit Was Filed Over A Book Ban Bill. “The Missouri House debated for over eight hours last Tuesday on a budget that is roughly $2 billion less than the one Gov. Mike Parson (R) proposed last January, cutting not only the $4.5 million Parson had slated for libraries, but also costs for diversity initiatives, childcare and pre-kindergarten programs. Missouri House budget committee leader Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage) proposed cutting library aid due to a recent lawsuit filed against the state last February.” [Heartland Signal, 4/11/23]
    • Library Funding Was Restored In The Budget By The Senate. [Missouri Independent, 4/19/23]

Nevada

  • Nevada Legislative Democrats Proposed Adding $250 Million To The State’s Education Budget To Provide Raises For Teachers. “Democrats in the state Senate and Assembly announced a proposal to add $250 million to the state’s education budget to help provide raises for Nevada teachers and education support staff in an effort to address a record number of teacher vacancies. The proposal announced Friday would dedicate a minimum of $250 million to match allocations within school districts’ budgets for teacher and staff raises up to a certain percentage.” [Nevada Independent, 2/3/23]
    • Democratic Lawmakers Approved A 26% Increase For The State’s Education Budget, Investing Over $11 Billion. “An extra $2 billion is one step closer to making its way into Nevada schools, providing a much-needed investment to teachers and children. On Tuesday, state legislators voted in favor of the historic budget that Governor Joe Lombardo has championed. Members of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means made the approval to inject $2.3 billion into state education. The new investment would increase statewide funding for English Learner programs from $85 million to $226 million; At Risk Pupils programs from $60 million to $163 million; And Special Education from $667 million to nearly $706 million.” [8NewsNow, 5/9/23]
  • Democratic Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui (D-Clark County) Introduced Legislation To Put $53 Million Dollars To Provide Universal School Lunches. “A $53 million proposal to provide lunch and breakfast for all Nevada students was introduced Tuesday at the Nevada Legislature in Carson City. Democratic Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui (D-Clark County) introduced a bill draft request to pay for a “Universal School Breakfast and Lunch Program.” It will ensure that every student in the state has access to a healthy breakfast and lunch at school, whether their family can pay for it or not.” [8NewsNow, 2/14/2023] 
    • Democrats Have  A Supermajority In The Assembly, But Are One Short Of A Supermajority In The Senate. “Even if Democrats are not keen on the idea of more money for Opportunity Scholarships, Lombardo enters the session with a key bargaining chip in his pocket — the power of the veto. Though Democrats have a supermajority in the Assembly (28 Democrats to 14 Republicans), they fall one short in the Senate (13 Democrats to 8 Republicans), meaning they’d need to rely on at least one Republican defector to override a gubernatorial veto.” [Nevada Independent, 2/3/23]

New Hampshire

  • Republican Lawmakers Introduced A Parental Bill Of Rights And Proposed An Increase In Funding For School Choice. “New Hampshire Senate Republicans promised no new taxes as they released their legislative priorities on Wednesday. The priorities include a balanced budget, defending education freedom accounts and school choice, passing a parental bill of rights and improving public safety.” [wmur.com, 1/4/23]
    • House Bill 272 Was Proposed To Increase Funding For Charter Schools. [HB 272, 2023-2024 Regular Session, 1/5/2023]
    • House Bill 10 Was Introduced To Establish A Parental Bill Of Rights. [HB 10, 2023-2024 Regular Session, 1/4/2023]
    • HB-10 Was Narrowly Voted Down In The House; A Similar Senate Bill Will Be Taken Up In The House In The Coming Months. “The House then tabled the original, unamended bill, House Bill 10, which lays out a number of other parental rights in schools, 193-192. Four Republican lawmakers joined all 191 Democrats present to vote against that bill. […] But Wednesday’s vote did not close the door on the legislation. Earlier this month, the Senate approved Senate Bill 272, which also requires that teachers disclose gender pronoun changes to inquiring parents. That bill will automatically receive a House floor vote in the coming months.” [New Hampshire Bulletin, 3/22/23]
      • SB272, The Senate Version Of A Parental Bill Of Rights, Passed In The Republican-controlled Senate. “Senate Bill 272 would outline a number of rights for parents – many of which exist in current law – such as the right to inspect the curriculum and the right to opt out of certain classroom materials. The bill would also require teachers to disclose a student’s gender identity changes if their parent asks, unless the teacher had ‘clear and convincing evidence’ that doing so would put the child at risk of abuse or neglect.” [New Hampshire Bulletin, 4/18/23; SB-272, 2023-2024 Regular Session, Passed Senate 3/16/23]
        • The Bill Did Not Pass In The House. [SB-272, 2023-2024 Regular Session, 5/18/23]
  • Democrats In The House Proposed Legislation To Increase Funding For Low-Income School Districts. [HB 529, 2023-2024 Regular Session, 1/5/23]
    • The Bill Was Retained In Committee. [HB 529, 2023-2024 Regular Session, 1/5/23]
  • A Bill Proposed By Democratic Lawmakers Would Repeal The 2021 “Divisive Concepts” Law. “The New Hampshire Legislature had passed a law in 2021 barring public school teachers from advocating for certain positions around race, gender, and other protected classes. […] Over a multi-hour hearing Thursday, educators and public school advocates gathered in Representatives Hall to argue that the 2021 law is overly vague and punitive, and to advocate for a bill from Democrats to repeal the law. […] The Democrats’ bill, House Bill 61, would repeal all of the statutory language added by the Legislature in 2021. And it would add new language stipulating that teachers will not face civil liability for instruction around “the historical or current experiences of any group that is protected from discrimination” under the existing state law. Sponsored by Rep. Peter Petrigno, a Milford Democrat, the bill stipulates that teachers are not barred from giving those lessons.” [New Hampshire Bulletin, 1/13/23]
    • The Bill To Repeal The “Divisive Concepts” Law Was Tabled. [HB-61, 23-24 General Session, 1/4/23] 
  • New Hampshire Democrats Introduced A Students’ Bill Of Rights To Codify Rights For Youth. “Democrats are countering this push with a students’ rights bill. Its sponsor, Rep. Linda Tanner, says it’s meant to codify existing rights for young people. ‘The goal of the bill is to bring focus back on the student,’ Tanner says. ‘In education, the student should be the focus of the community, of the parents, of the education committee. That’s why we’re there, and that’s what we do.’” [nhpr.org, 1/26/23]
    • The Bill Was Tabled. [HB-629, 23-24 General Session, 1/5/23]

New Jersey

  • Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation That Would Prohibit Libraries And Public Schools From Banning Books. “New legislation in New Jersey would prohibit libraries and public schools from banning or restricting access to certain books. If passed, any library that bans a book anyway would be at risk of losing its funding. It comes at a time when efforts to censor material have grown nationwide – much of it out of Florida. The American Library Association says there were nearly 1,300 demands from various members of the public to censor library books and resources last year.” [ABC 7, 5/24/23]

New Mexico

  • The Gov. Signed Legislation To Distribute $100 Million Dollars Annually For Early Childhood Education Programs. [HB-191, 2023 Regular Session, Introduced 1/30/23]
  • Lawmakers Introduced The Universal Healthy School Meals Act To Provide Free School Breakfast And Lunch To Every Public School Student. [SB-4, 2023 Regular Session, 1/17/23]
    • The Bill Was Signed Into Law By The Governor on March 27, 2023. [SB-4, 2023 Regular Session, Introduced 1/17/23]
  • Legislation Would Double The Minimum Salary For Education Assistants From 12K To 25K Dollars A Year. “New Mexico is still fighting a teacher shortage, and state lawmakers are working to combat it. […] The other is House Bill 127, which would double the minimum salary for educational assistants in our state from 12 to 25 thousand dollars a year. During last year’s legislative session, minimum licensed teacher salaries were increased by 10 thousand dollars. Ellen Bernstein is the president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation. She believes changes like that are the key to recruiting new teachers, retaining those in the industry, and reclaiming the ones who have left.” [KOAT ABC7, 2/5/23]
    • The New Mexico House Passed Legislation To Increase Assistant Teacher Pay. “The legislation, House Bill 127, would require at least a $25,000 annual salary for licensed educational assistants, up from just $12,000. Rep. Susan Herrera, D-Embudo, said the raise would be a step toward properly compensating important staff who face low hourly wages.” [ABQ Journal, 2/23/23]
    • The Bill Became Law Without The Governor’s Signature On March 18, 2023. [HB-127, 2023 Regular Session, Introduced 1/19/23]

North Carolina

  • House Republicans Passed Legislation To Prohibit Teaching Concepts Related To Race Or Gender Inequalities. “State Rep. Vernetta Alston, who also opposed the 2021 bill, told The N&O this month that legislation like this “is dangerous” and called it a political distraction. ‘Our children, our students, deserve to know the truth about our history,’ said Alston, a Durham Democrat. ‘This is something that’s being manufactured by the Republican Party, and it’s going to have real consequences for our children, for our teachers, for our schools at a time when we should be talking about the fact that I think teacher vacancies have tripled in the last three years. … There are real crises going on in our schools that need immediate attention. And this is not where we should be spending our energy,’ she said.” [The News&Observer, 2/23/23; HB187, North Carolina General Assembly, 23-24 Session, House Passed 3rd Reading, 3/22/23]
  • House Republicans Passed A Bill That Would Allow For More Reasons To Suspend Students, Including Adding Dress Code Violations And Inappropriate Language As “Serious Violations.” [H188, North Carolina General Assembly, 23-24 Session, House Passed 3rd Reading, 3/22/23]
    • The Bill Sponsor, Who Also Chairs The K-12 Education Committee In The House, Rep. John Torbett, Spoke About The “Structural Pier” Of School Discipline. “He said the education system is doing a disservice to students who cause a disruption by not getting them the help they need to deal with the root cause of the behavior. And at the same time, he said it’s unfair to other students when one child disrupts the learning taking place in the classroom.” [EdNC, 12/5/22]
  • Republican Lawmakers Passed Legislation To Further Extend Charter School’s Pilot Status And Allow Them To Offer Remote Academies. “The bill would allow charter schools to offer remote academies, similar to what traditional public schools offered during COVID-19 and beyond. But a separate section of the bill allows the state’s two virtual charter schools to continue on in their pilot status for another year and increase their enrollment. At issue is the schools’ performance. They were launched in the 2015-16 school year as a pilot program and have consistently been designated by the state as low-performing schools. […] ‘I really don’t understand why we are continuing to extend this pilot program. Since 2016, these schools have received D ratings and have not met growth standards. I really don’t understand that. Can you explain that?’ asked Rep. Julie von Haefen, D-Wake.” [EdNC, 3/8/23]
  • Republican Lawmakers Passed Legislation To Expand The State’s Private School Voucher Program. “The effort to greatly expand the state’s nearly decade-old Opportunity Scholarship Program is a key initiative of conservative school choice activists. They argue government should provide students with funds to ensure they can succeed in private or religious schools, perhaps to avoid chronically low-performing local public schools. […] Democrats spoke against the measure, saying it would erode financial support for traditional public schools even more by siphoning state funds to private schools, many of which lack the same standards and accountability as public schools. Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County Democrat opposed to the program, said eliminating the income standards would transfer money to wealthy families that already have the funds to pay for private schools.” [WNCT, 5/18/23]

Oklahoma

  • Senate Republicans Passed A Bill To Ban Adults From Accessing Books In Public Libraries That “Appeal To A Prurient Interest In Sex,” And Voted To Require High School Students Only Have Access To “Age-Appropriate” Books. “State senators on Tuesday voted to ban adults from accessing books in public libraries that have a ‘predominant tendency to appeal to a prurient interest in sex.’ They also voted to require high school juniors and seniors to get written permission before they can access age-appropriate library books. Senate Bill 397 requires those books be locked away in an area only accessible to librarians, teachers and other school staff. The remaining public school students must have access to only age-appropriate reading materials — even if they’re reading at an advanced level. […] Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, said while conversations about book access for students should be a discussion, the Legislature is entering into a “very dangerous area” by precluding adults from accessing materials and by outright banning libraries from having those on their shelves. ‘That’s not the government’s business,’ Floyd said, referring to what adults choose to read.” [Enid News & Eagle, 3/7/23]
  • House Republicans Introduced A Bill That Would Ban All Sex Education Classes Or Programs. [Oklahoma Legislature, HB1780, introduced 1/18/23]

Oregon

  • Oregon Lawmakers Approved Record Funding For Public Education, Among Other Education-Focused Legislation. “In addition to a record $10.2 billion in funding going to Oregon public schools for the next two years, lawmakers passed a slew of education bills this session related to early literacy, special education, and supporting teachers. […] House Bill 3235 creates a $1000 child tax credit for families making $25,000 or less, House Bill 3201 directs the Oregon Business Development Department to provide funds to increase broadband access, and House Bill 3014 allows school transportation funding to be used for ‘alternative transportation’ like walking school buses. Other legislation will add credits to Oregon’s graduation requirements for personal finance education, require schools to implement a curriculum related to fentanyl risks, and push ODE to develop training for teachers ahead of the implementation of new ethnic studies standards.” [OPB, 6/27/23]

Pennsylvania

  • Republican Lawmakers, Including Sen. Doug Mastriano, Introduced School Curriculum Transparency Legislation. [SB-340, 23-24 Regular Session, 2/10/2023] 
  • Democratic Lawmakers Are Pushing To Expand Teacher Certification To Immigrants And DACA Recipients. [WESA, 4/28/23]
    • The Legislation Also Aims To Make DACA Recipients Eligible For In-State Tuition. [WESA, 4/28/23]
  • Democrats Backed Legislation To Address Pennsylvania’s Teacher Shortage Passed In The House. [HB-688, 2023 Regular Session, 3/23/23]
  • Democratic Lawmakers Promised To Introduce Legislation That Would Prohibit School Districts From Banning Books Simply Because They Discuss Topics Such As Race And LGBTQ+ Issues. [Memo, 23-24 Regular Session, 4/14/23]
  • Democratic Lawmakers Proposed Legislation To Provide Free Breakfast And Lunch To All Public School Students. “Breakfast and lunch may be on the house for all of Pennsylvania’s 1.74 million public school students when schools reopen beginning in August. Democrats called for the check, proposing companion legislation in the House and Senate to cover the cost of two meals each school day, requesting $275 million from the state budget — less than 1 percent of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s estimated $44.4 billion budget proposal for 2023-24.” [Meadville Tribune, 6/3/23]
  • The Democratic House Passed A Bill To Recruit More Educators by Offering $10K Stipends. “Faced with a rising number of Pennsylvania teachers leaving the profession, state House lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill to recruit more educators by giving student teachers a stipend while they’re in the classroom. The legislation seeks to remove the barriers for prospective teachers, whose work in the classroom usually goes unpaid as they finish their education. The proposal passed 141-62 and now goes on to the Senate.” [U.S. News, 6/22/23]
  • Republican Lawmakers Held Up Funding For State Universities Because They Want More Oversight Of The Research And Medical Care They Provide. “Pennsylvania House Republicans held up funding for state-related universities Monday because they want greater oversight of the institutions, including their research and the medical care they provide. […] Some antiabortion Republicans opposed funding Pitt over its fetal tissue research, and others opposed giving Penn State its annual appropriation due to its health system’s care for transgender children — both of which have become hot-button topics nationwide.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/26/23]
  • Amanda Cappelletti (D) Introduced Legislation To Prohibit Book Bans. “According to a Banned Books Report (2022) done by PEN America, Pennsylvania had 457 banned books in 11 different districts, but one Lawmaker is trying to change that. In response to the rapid banning of books in Pa., Amanda Cappelletti (D-Delaware/Montgomery) has brought forth a bill focused on prohibiting book bans in Pa. libraries.” [WTAJ.com, 7/11/23]

South Carolina

  • House Republicans Passed A Bill That Would Prohibit Teaching At The K-12 Level About Certain Concepts Related To Race And Gender Inequalities, And Allows Parents To File Complaints About Classroom Material. “In a news release Tuesday, the South Carolina House Democratic Caucus (SCHDC) said the proposed House Bill 3728 would censor curriculum taught in the state’s public schools. […] The bill also calls on schools to create complaint forms for parents to use if classroom material is discovered to be objectionable. It would also make instructional material available for parents to review online. Schools or other educational agencies found violating the proposed law or refusing to adhere to a correction plan could see up to 5% of their appropriated funds withheld by the state Department of Education.” [WCNC, 1/24/23]

Texas

  • Republican Lawmakers Introduced A Bill That Would Ban Public Universities From Funding Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Offices Or Initiatives. “Tepper’s alma mater Texas Tech University, now in his district, said its Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion works ‘to foster, affirm, celebrate, engage and strengthen inclusive communities.’ They provide mentors to first-generation students, cultural centers for minority students and outlets for the campus to engage with the intercultural community. Tepper said he hopes his bill will get rid of those outlets. He called Texas Tech’s Black Cultural Center ‘self-segregation.’ [KXAN, 2/8/23]

Washington

  • House Democrats Passed Legislation To Expand Free School Breakfast And Lunch Programs. “House Bill 1238 has now been scaled back to a phased expansion of the program over the next few years, so that by the 2024-25 school year, K-5 elementary schools could offer universal free breakfasts and lunches if up to 30% of students at the school qualify for free or reduced lunch. That would reduce the statewide costs of expansion to $17 million a year – or $55 million over four years. If the bill passes, by 2024-25 about 634,000 students statewide at 1,430 schools could access free breakfasts and lunches at their schools – about 58% of students statewide. This change would also help families who don’t quite qualify for federal assistance programs but who are still struggling.” [Crosscut, 2/27/23]
    • The Bill Was Passed And Sent To The Governor.  [Washington State Legislature, 2023-24 Regular Session, HB1238, Delivered to Governor, 4/20/23]

Wisconsin

  • Democratic Lawmakers Have Proposed Offering Free School Breakfast And Lunch For All Students, Regardless Of Income Levels. “Republicans also chose not to implement a universal school lunch program in the past. Democrats proposed legislation in 2022 that would have provided state funds to reimburse schools that provide free school lunches to all students, but that legislation never left the Republican-controlled committee. ‘Making sure that every kid has access to a healthy breakfast means that every kid has access to higher academic success,’ Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) said at the press conference. ‘Republicans who want to see academic success increase in the state of Wisconsin — this is an easy way to do it.’” [Wisconsin Examiner, 3/7/23]
  • A Bill Backed By Republican Lawmakers Would Require Certain Schools To Employ Armed School Resource Officers. [AB-69, 2023 Regular Session, 2/27/23]
    • The Bill Passed In The Assembly. [AB-69, 2023 Regular Session, 2/27/23]
  • Republican Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Ban Books Containing Obscene Materials In Schools And Allow Parents To Sue Librarians If They Violate This Law. “State Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, and Republican state Sen. Andre Jacque, R-DePere, are looking for support for their plans to ban material they deem obscene from school libraries, as well as allow parents to sue librarians if they break the law. ‘LRB-0522 prohibits schools from using the tax-payer funded common school fund to purchase obscene materials. LRB-0423 removes the exemption for school employees to be held liable for displaying obscene material,’ the two wrote on a note to possible co-sponsors in the state legislature.” [Victoria Advocate, 5/10/23]
  • Republican Lawmakers Voted To Cut The University of Wisconsin System’s Budget By $32 Million. “Republican lawmakers voted to cut the University of Wisconsin System’s budget by $32 million on Thursday despite a projected record-high $7 billion state budget surplus, leaving the university nearly half a billion dollars short of what it requested. The cut comes in reaction to Republican anger over diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs on the system’s 13 universities. Republican leaders have said the $32 million is what they estimated would be spent on those programs over the next two years.” [Associated Press, 6/22/23]

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