HCSHB1858--TRANSPARENCYINPUBLICEDUCATION(Baker)
COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonElementaryand
SecondaryEducation
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
1858asperfected.
Thisbillcreatesthe"Parents'BillofRightsActof2022"and
providesalistofrightsthatparentsmayrequireschooldistricts
thatreceivefederalorstatemoneytofollow.Rightslistedin
thebillincludebutarenotlimitedto:
(1)Therighttoreviewcurricula,books,andinstructional
materials;
(2)Therighttovisitschoolduringschoolhourswith
restrictions;and
(3)Therighttohavesufficientaccountability andtransparency
regardingschoolboards.
Schooldistrictrestrictionsarealsooutlinedinthebilland
include:
(1)Limitsonnondisclosureagreementstoreviewcurriculumor
forIEPmeetingsandcertainothermeetingandhearingsspecified
inthebill;
(2)Allowingstudentinvolvementinschoolassemblies,field
trips,orotherextracurricular activitieswithoutwritten
authorizationfromtheparent;
(3)Biometricdatacollection;and
(4)Publicmeetingrequirementsthatallowpubliccomment.
Eachschooldistrictandpublicschoolmustnotifyparentsofall
reportedincidentspertainingtostudentsafetyincluding,butnot
limitedto,anyfelonyormisdemeanorcommittedbyteachersor
otherschoolemployees.
Eachschoolboardshalladoptpoliciesthatwillensure
accountability andtransparencyforparentsinthedistrictas
outlinedinthebill,andemployeesoftheschoolareprohibited
fromcoercingaminorchildfromwithholdinginformationfroma
parent.
Thebillprovidesdetailsoncivilactionsthatmaybetaken againstaschooldistrictandprovidesthatwithholdingsfromstate
fundingmayoccurfornoncompliance(Section161.841,RSMo.).
ThebillrequirestheDepartmentofElementaryandSecondary
Education(DESE)todevelopatoolwithintheDepartment's
comprehensivedatasystemwhichshallconsistofanInternet-based
tooltogiveaccesstoeveryschooldistrict'scurriculum,source
materials,andprofessionaldevelopmentmaterials. Detailsforthe
databaseareoutlinedandtheDESEshallestablishformsfor
districtstocomplete. Schooldistrictsarerequiredtosubmit
updatestoanyrequiredinformationeverysixmonthsandDESEshall
updatethetoolmonthly(Section161.852).
Thisbillrequiresthatschoolboardsasdefinedbythebilladopt
aschoolboardmeetingspeakerpolicybythe2023-24schoolyear.
Thepolicymustdesignateatimeforanopenforumatthebeginning
ofeachpublicschoolboardmeeting. Boardsmaysettimelimitsno
lessthanthreeminutesperindividualandthepolicymayoutline
specificinformationthateachindividualmustprovidebefore
speaking. Theschoolboardmaylimittopicstoexcludepersonnel
issuesandlitigationissuesandschoolboardsshallnotban
individualsexceptasprovidedinthebill.Parentsmaybringa
civilactionagainsttheschooldistrictforaviolationofthe
policyandiffoundtohaveknowinglyengagedinrepeated
violationsDESEshallwithholdstateformulamoneyfromtheschool
districtuntiltheycomeintocompliance(Section162.005).
Thisbillrequiresthatbeginninginthe2023-24schoolyearthat
allschooldistrictsandcharterschoolspostontheschool's
websitetheapprovedschoolcurriculumthatwillbeusedforpupil
instruction.Anychangestothecurriculummustbeupdatedonthe
websitewithin30daysandnoticemustbeprovidedinaformof
writtencommunicationwithparents.Anycurriculumthatis
trademarkedorcopyrightedmaynotbewidelydisseminatedtothe
public.
Thebilloutlinesacauseofactiontorequirethattheschool
boardcomplyandifanyresidentprevailsinacauseofactionthe
billprovidesthatattorneyfeesshallbepaidupto$15,000
(Section170.231).
Thisbillprovidesthatnoschoolorschoolemployeeshallcompel
teachersorstudentstodiscusspublicpolicyissueswithout
consent. ThebilloutlinesadditionalideasrelatedtoTitleIV
andVIoftheCivilRightsActof1964thatteachersandstudents
cannotbecompelledtoadopt,affirm,orprofessincludingbutnot
limitedto:thatindividualsofanyrace,ethnicity,color,or
nationaloriginareinherentlysuperiororinferiorandthat individuals,byvirtueoftheirrace,ethnicity,color,ornational
origin,bearcollectiveguiltandareinherentlyresponsiblefor
actionscommittedinthepastbyothermembersofthesamerace,
ethnicity,color,ornationalorigin.Students,parents,or
teachersmayfileacomplaintwiththeDepartmentofElementaryand
SecondaryEducationorthestateAttorneyGeneralforviolations
(Section170.355).