South Dakota House Bill HB1310

South Dakota 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/22
• Refer: 2/4/22

Caption

Authorize parental review of instructional and curricular materials.

Impact

The bill's provisions entail that all materials used in student instruction—including audio, digital, and traditional written resources—must be accessible to parents. Moreover, the legislation dictates how these materials should be organized and presented online, including requirements for clear labeling and ease of searchability. Notably, the bill allows for parent reviews of materials containing confidential or copyrighted content under specific conditions and places an emphasis on districts maintaining this information for at least two years.

Summary

House Bill 1310 is designed to enhance parental involvement in the educational process by mandating that school districts make instructional materials and curricular activities available for review. This statute aims to create greater transparency in public education by requiring schools to post all instructional materials, descriptions of activities, and policies related to educational content on their district websites. Parents are also entitled to receive written communications regarding how to access this information, reinforcing the bill's focus on parent engagement and oversight in their children's education.

Contention

While HB 1310 promotes parental rights, it has sparked debates regarding its implications for educational practices. Critics argue that the bill might inadvertently impose constraints on teaching methods and limit educational content due to potential pushback over certain materials. This has raised concerns that a more reactive approach to educational transparency could lead to self-censorship by educators, possibly curtailing students' exposure to diverse viewpoints and learning opportunities. Additionally, the inclusion of legal recourse for parents against districts not complying with the law has been a point of contention, with opponents suggesting that it may foster unnecessary litigation and strain relationships between parents and schools.