New Jersey Assembly Bill A3377

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/7/22

Caption

Requires DOE to develop model policies for ensuring parental notification of sexually explicit content in curriculum; requires board of education to provide parental notification of sexually explicit content in curriculum.

Impact

The impact of AB A3377 on state education laws is significant as it will formalize the requirements for parental notification across public schools. Each school board must create policies aligned with the state guidelines, which empowers parents to be informed about the materials their children are exposed to in classroom settings. Critics of the bill argue that while enhancing parental rights, it may inadvertently lead to limitations on educational content and broader censorship concerns among education advocates, pointing to fears of restricting sensitive but important educational discussions around topics of sex education and health.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3377 requires the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) to develop model policies aimed at ensuring parental notification regarding sexually explicit content in school curricula. The bill's provisions mandate that school boards notify parents prior to exposing students to instructional materials that contain such content. Defined broadly, 'sexually explicit content' encompasses a range of descriptive and visual content depicting sexual behaviors and orientations. School boards will have the responsibility to adopt policies consistent with or exceeding those modelled by the DOE.

Contention

There are notable points of contention surrounding AB A3377. Supporters argue that it promotes transparency and enhances parental control over their children's education. However, opponents highlight the potential for misuse of these policies to restrict the teaching of necessary educational content, ultimately leading to an environment where educators may shy away from discussing important topics due to the fear of parental backlash. This presents a challenge that the bill addresses without explicitly allowing censoring, though it opens the door to the debate surrounding educational content suitability and parental rights.