Parents’ Right to Direct the Education, Upbringing, and Moral or Religious
Training of Their Children; HB 2236
HB 2236 states that a parent has a right to direct the education, upbringing, and moral or
religious training of their children. The bill also directs 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 can remove their child from a lesson or class based upon objections to the course
material.
The bill defines the following terms:
●“Activities” includes any presentation, assembly, lecture, or other event facilitated
by a school or school district;
○The term does not include student presentations;
●“Educational materials” includes, but is not 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” means a parent, legal guardian, or custodian who has authority to act on
behalf of a child.
The bill allows parents to object to any educational materials or activities at a school
district their child attends 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The bill states the academic record of any student withdrawn from the class, educational
program, or activity, based upon the criteria in the bill, cannot be adversely affected by the
student’s withdrawal.
The bill also states that exemptions from required instruction that are granted by the bill
will 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 withdrawal from a class or educational program
pursuant to the bill.
The bill specifies that, when appropriate, a student who is excused from an assignment
or activity can remain in the classroom, or a placement will be provided to provide the student
instructional support.
Kansas Legislative Research Department 1 2023 Summary of Legislation The bill also requires 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.
Kansas Legislative Research Department 2 2023 Summary of Legislation