Relating to education, including requiring the boards of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools to publish certain specified information, modifying provisions related to required social studies instruction, and providing civil penalties

This bill relates to education, including requiring the boards of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools to publish certain specified information and modifying provisions related to required social studies instruction. DIVISION I —— SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL TRANSPARENCY.77, which requires the board of directors of a school district and charter schools to adopt a policy describing the procedures for the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district or charter school to review the instructional materials used in the student’s classroom. to request that the student not be provided with certain instructional materials. The bill also requires the school district or charter school to display the policy on its internet site and annually provide a written or electronic copy of the policy to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the school district or charter school.77 also requires school districts and charter schools to provide the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district or charter school with all of the following information related to the current school year: a course syllabus or summary of material that will be taught in the student’s classes, how the student’s classes meet or exceed educational standards, and a list of all instructional materials that will be used in the student’s classes. The bill establishes that school districts and charter schools may provide the information in certain specified electronic forms. The bill requires a teacher or the school district or charter school to update the information on or before the end of the school week when a modification occurs.77 requires school districts and charter schools to make available to the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district or charter school a comprehensive list of all books available to students in libraries operated by the school district or charter school. The bill requires school districts and charter schools to provide instructions on their internet sites that show the procedures in effect for the parent or guardian to request the removal of a book from a school library.77 requires school districts and charter schools to publish on their internet sites information related to the training and professional development courses and programs offered by the school district or charter school in which employees of the school district or charter school have participated during the current school year. teachers providing special education instruction pursuant to Code chapter 256B.77, after having an opportunity to correct the issue, the department is required to take corrective action, which could include imposing conditions on funding or withholding certain payments.77 within days after receipt of notice from the department, the department shall assess a civil penalty against the school district or charter school in an amount not less than $500 and not more than $5,000.77 leads to enforcement action by the department.78, which requires the board of directors of a school district or charter school to adopt protocols for the selection, review, reconsideration, and removal of materials in school libraries. The bill establishes that the protocols are required to include all of the following: a process for the selection and removal of materials from school libraries; a process for a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district or charter school to request that specific library materials not be checked out by the student; the lawful and ethical use of information resources; and a process that allows the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district or charter school to request the removal of materials from school libraries. library. DIVISION II —— SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION.11 is required to include, in grades through 12, five units of social studies, one-half unit of which is to consist of instruction in United States government. The bill provides that this one-half unit of United States government shall include an assessment of the student’s knowledge of United States government and civics. The bill provides that the most recent version of the civics test developed by the United States citizenship and immigration services shall be used as the assessment. The bill requires each school district and nonpublic school to submit the results of the assessment to the department of education by June of each year.11 unless the state board of education waives a particular standard for the charter school during the charter school’s application.