West Virginia 2023 Regular Session

West Virginia House Bill HB2778

Introduced
1/18/23  

Caption

To create curriculum transparency in public schools

Impact

The enactment of HB 2778 would necessitate amendments to existing educational laws in West Virginia regarding curriculum disclosure and parental involvement. By mandating public availability of classroom curricula, the bill aims to foster an educational environment where parents can actively engage with and respond to the materials their children are exposed to. This could lead to increased accountability for schools and educators concerning the content delivered in classrooms, as well as potentially improving the quality of educational offerings if parents are more involved.

Summary

House Bill 2778 is designed to enhance transparency in public school curricula by requiring schools to publish their adopted and up-to-date classroom curriculum online at the beginning of each school year or within 30 days following any revisions. This legislation is aimed at improving accessibility for parents and guardians, enabling them to better understand what their children are being taught in school. Furthermore, it stipulates that parents may inspect supplemental instructional materials upon request, thereby promoting involvement in their child's education.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2778 appears to be cautiously optimistic among supporters, particularly those advocating for enhanced parental rights in education. Proponents believe that giving parents more insight into curricular choices is essential for fostering transparency. However, there are concerns from some educators regarding the feasibility and potential complications of complying with the new requirements. The discussion reflects a balance between promoting parental engagement and ensuring that educational institutions can operate efficiently without undue administrative burdens.

Contention

Notable points of contention regarding HB 2778 include the practicality of teachers complying with the requirement to make curricula available online and the administrative processes involved in managing complaints from parents regarding curriculum content. Some educators argue that the increased scrutiny and demand for transparency could inadvertently impose additional stress and challenges on educators who are already navigating complex curricula. This raises questions about the extent to which such measures will genuinely enhance educational outcomes versus creating further obstacles in day-to-day classroom management.

Companion Bills

WV SB422

Similar To Requiring public schools to publish curriculum online at beginning of each new school year

Similar Bills

WV SB422

Requiring public schools to publish curriculum online at beginning of each new school year

WV HB5124

The purpose of this bill is to remove the restrictions of taxpayers to access online curriculum, and allow for taxpayers to inspect additional instructional material adopted by the county board pursuant to including books in the classroom.

WV HB2087

Removing restrictions of taxpayers to access online curriculum, and allow for taxpayers to inspect additional instructional material adopted by the county board pursuant to including books in the classroom

MS HB667

Active shooter training; require school district employees to attend every three years.

MS HB278

State Board of Education; require to develop curriculum and implement programs of conflict resolution.

MS HB310

State Board of Education; require to develop curriculum and implement programs of conflict resolution.

MS HB1455

State Board of Education; require to develop curriculum and implement programs of conflict resolution.

MS HB454

State Board of Education; require to develop curriculum and implement programs of conflict resolution.