Republicans Introduce Minnesota 'Parents' Bill of Rights'

ST. PAUL, MN — Senate Republicans have introduced what they're calling the "Parents’ Bill of Rights," a package of bills that would require — among other things — teachers to share their classroom curriculum with parents.

Under one of the five bills introduced, public schools would be required "to allow for reasonable accommodation for alternative instruction if a parent objects to the content, without penalty to the student," Sen. Paul Gazelka of Gull Lake said in a news release.

The Republicans held a news conference Monday to unveil the measures.

"It is the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children," said Sen. Justin Eichorn.

"We have seen the rights of parents eroded over time and replaced by heavy-handed bureaucracy. If we want to improve education in Minnesota, then we need schools that are transparent, accountable, and give parents a seat at the table. Our Parents Bill of Rights empowers moms and dads to have a voice in our children’s education."

Senate Republicans provided a summary for their education reform bills below:

SF 2009, Parent's Rights

It states school districts must not withhold information about their child's well-being or education. It requires schools to have a regular system for notifying families of activities at school.

SF 2666, Classroom Syllabus Discourse

This requires teachers to electronically share with parents the syllabus of the class, and to update parents if there are significant changes to the syllabus during the course year.

SF 2575, Parental Curriculum Review

This short bill requires schools to inform parents of their right to review instructional materials and seek alternative instruction support to suit their child's needs.

SF 2729, Anti-Doxxing

Parents should not be required to publicly disclose their address to speak before a school board meeting. This would prevent school boards from stifling debate by subjecting parents to an invasion of personal privacy.

SF 1525, Education Savings Account

Giving families more flexibility to support their individual needs in education. With three academic years hit by COVID restrictions, many students are having to use private tutoring to get caught up with learning loss. ESAs give families more flexibility to enhance their public education or look to alternative school choices. They know what they - this helps them afford it."

Education Minnesota, the state's largest teachers union, issued a statement immediately opposing the Republican-backed education plan.

"Every educator I know welcomes conversations with parents about the lessons being taught in school, but GOP senators today presented a plan to drop a crushing amount of extra paperwork on already exhausted teachers without a plan for how it would work, how parents would use the information, or even if it was necessary," Denise Specht, the president of Education Minnesota, said in a statement.

"The senators also called for a return to the old, discredited idea of school vouchers. Instead of having the debate about how to equip every school with the resources to deliver a high-quality education that prepares every child for the future, no matter their color, background or ZIP code, we’re once again being asked to siphon taxpayer money away from schools used by nearly all students to schools that can, and do, turn students away on the basis of their parents’ faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, health condition and disability."

The education proposals face long odds at the Minnesota Capitol, where Democrats control the Statehouse, while Republicans control the state Senate.