One of the most extreme proposals, Kansas House Bill 2662, could put educators at risk of criminal charges. The bill makes it a misdemeanor to present, display or distribute to minors “any material that is harmful to minors.” It would also require districts to create a “parent transparency portal” that includes:

All academic and social-emotional learning materials, activities and curricula used for instruction in all district schools.
A copy of each test, questionnaire, survey or examination that will be conducted, along with an explanation of how such test, questionnaire, survey or examination benefits student learning and academic achievement.
A list organized by the school, grade level and area of instruction of all professional development courses, training materials and related activities provided to any licensed teacher or administrator.
A link to the catalog or a list of the documented inventory of the resources available to students in each school library.
Information and guidance on how a person may request and be given the opportunity to review and inspect any of the materials, activities and information that is required to be provided on the school district’s parent transparency portal.

A coalition of Kansas faith leaders and education advocates this week urged legislators to abandon the proposal. "This conversation about race or critical theory, whatever the right is calling it, is being used as an excuse to undermine support for public schools," Rabbi Moti Rieber, executive director for Kansas Interfaith Action, said, according to the Kansas Reflector. "We need to reach out to kids from across different spectrums, bring them into the conversation and center the experience of people not often centered in our history books."

Instant Insights /

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