As an addendum to our previous post, the following bills also received a public hearing in the Assembly education committee on Thursday, Sept. 17.
AB 562 This bill requires each school board of a school district and each operator of an independent charter school, before providing any program related to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression to a pupil in the school district or attending the charter school, to give notice of the program to the pupil’s parents or guardians. This notice is required with respect to a pupil in any grade before such a program is provided to the pupil. A “program” is defined to include instruction and materials as well as any test, survey, questionnaire, or other activity.
A pupil may not be required to participate in a program related to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression if the pupil’s parent or guardian submits a written request to opt out of the program.
AB 563 This bill requires the DPI to promulgate rules to develop a model curriculum and instructional materials for grades kindergarten to 12 on civic education to prepare pupils to be civically responsible and knowledgeable adults.
Finally, under current law, a school board may grant a high school diploma to a pupil only if the pupil meets specific statutory requirements, including earning a certain number of credits in various subjects in the high school grades. Currently, a pupil must earn at least three credits of social studies, including state and local government. The bill specifies that the social studies credits also must include one-half credit of civics instruction.
