SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2236
As Amended by Senate Committee on
Education
Brief*
HB 2236, as amended, would state that a parent has a
right to direct the education, upbringing, and moral or
religious training of their children. The bill would also direct
local boards of education to adopt policies and procedures to
guarantee the free exercise of these rights and establish a
means by which a parent could remove their child from a
lesson or class based upon objections to the course material.
The bill would define the following terms:
●“Activities” would include any presentation,
assembly, lecture, or other event facilitated by a
school or school district;
○The term would not include student
presentations;
●“Educational materials” would include, but not be
limited to, curriculum, textbooks, reading materials,
videos, digital materials, websites, online
applications, and other material given or provided
to a student for instruction; and
●“Parent” would mean a parent, legal guardian, or
custodian who has authority to act on behalf of a
child.
The bill would allow parents to object to any educational
materials or activities at a school district their child attends
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org and withdraw the student from the class or programming if
the educational material or activity meets one of the following
criteria:
●Is not included in the approved district curriculum
or state educational standards; or
●Impairs the parent’s sincerely held beliefs, values,
or principles.
The bill would state that the academic record of any
student withdrawn from the class, educational program, or
activity based upon the criteria in the bill could not be
adversely affected by the student’s withdrawal.
The bill would also state that exemptions from required
instruction that would be granted by the bill would not excuse
a student from the responsibility of completing comparable
alternative assignments offered to obtain credit in the course,
total semester hours required for attendance, or required
courses for graduation by any such withdrawal from a class
or educational program pursuant to the bill.
The bill would specify that when appropriate, a student
who is excused from an assignment or activity could remain
in the classroom, or a placement would be provided to
provide the student instructional support.
The bill also would require all local boards of education
to adopt policies and procedures to guarantee a parent’s free
exercise of the rights established by the bill; such policies and
procedures would include provisions for the implementation
of the bill.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Education at the request of Representative Thomas.
2- 2236 House Committee on Education
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of the Kansas Policy
Institute and a private citizen who is a parent and homeschool
educator. The proponents generally stated the bill is needed
to better address the concerns of parents about the content of
curriculum and educational materials presented to their
children. Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the Kansas Catholic Conference, Kansas
Family Voice, and three private citizens.
Opponent testimony was provided by representatives of
the Kansas Association of School Boards, Kansas National
Education Association, and United School Administrators of
Kansas. The opponents generally stated the bill was too
broad and could allow for students to opt out of low
performing classes or assignments. The opponents also
stated the issue should be left to local school boards, some of
whom have independently chosen to adopt parents bill of
rights’ policies. Written-only opponent testimony was provided
by the Kansas PTA, State Board of Education, League of
Women Voters Kansas, and two private citizens.
Written-only neutral testimony was provided by a
representative of Kansas Interfaith Action.
The House Committee amended the bill by replacing a
reference to an educational material or activity that harms the
student to instead describe an educational material or activity
that is not included in approved district curriculum or state
educational standards.
Senate Committee on Education
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of the Kansas Family Voice
and a private citizen who is a member of the Lansing School
Board. Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
3- 2236 representatives of the Kansas Catholic Conference and the
Kansas Policy Institute. The proponents generally stated the
bill would affirm the natural right of parents to direct the
education of their children, which includes the right to object
to certain curriculum.
Opponent testimony was provided by representatives of
the Kansas Association of School Boards, Kansas National
Education Association, Kansas PTA, and United School
Administrators of Kansas, as well as a private citizen. Written-
only opponent testimony was provided by representatives of
the Shawnee Mission School District, Kansas State Board of
Education, Game on for Kansas Schools, American
Federation of Teachers – Kansas, and American Atheists, as
well as two private citizens. The opponents expressed
general concerns that not only would students be able to opt-
out of required assignments without alternative work, but that
students would be able to withdraw from classes without
repercussion to their academic records. [Note: The Senate
Committee amended the bill by adding language that would
require a student who is exempted from instruction to
complete comparable alternative assignments.] Opponents
also stated that the bill would hinder the academic success of
all students.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to include
language to clarify that a student who is exempted from
required instruction would not be excused from comparable
alternative assignments or activities and that the student
should remain in the classroom when appropriate.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, any fiscal effect would
occur only for school districts and would be negligible.
Education; parents; rights; school districts; children; educational materials and
activities; policies and procedures
4- 2236