Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to clarify the procedures for parental review of educational curriculum in Minnesota schools. It focuses on ensuring that parents, guardians, and adult students have the ability to preview instructional materials and request alternative education if they find the content objectionable.

Main Provisions

• Parental Rights to Curriculum Review: The bill mandates that each school district in Minnesota must establish a procedure allowing parents, guardians, or adult students (18 years or older) to review the instructional materials that will be used for their minor children or for themselves in the case of adult students.
• Alternative Instruction: If parents or adult students object to the content of the instructional materials, they can make arrangements with school personnel for alternative instruction. The alternative instruction can be provided by the parent, guardian, or adult student if the school-proposed alternative doesn't meet their concerns.
• Cost of Alternative Instruction: The school board is not obligated to cover any expenses incurred from alternative instruction provided by parents, guardians, or adult students.
• No Penalties for Alternative Instruction: Students will not face academic or other penalties for receiving alternative instruction. However, school personnel are allowed to evaluate and assess the student's work under the alternative instruction.
• Impact on Other Students: Requests for alternative instruction are considered individual decisions and should not influence the availability of instructional materials for other students.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill broadens the definition of "instructional materials" to explicitly include online materials and media used in official school curricular programs. This ensures that digital content is subject to the same parental review as traditional materials.

Relevant Terms

• Parental curriculum review
• Alternative instruction
• Instructional materials
• School district policies
• Educational materials review
• Digital instructional content
• Parental rights in education