Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to clarify the policies regarding parental rights to review school curriculum materials and to provide alternative instruction in Minnesota schools.

Main Provisions

• Parental Review of Curriculum: The bill mandates that each school district must have a procedure in place allowing parents, guardians, or adult students (18 years or older) to review the instructional materials provided to students.
• Alternative Instruction: If parents, guardians, or adult students object to the content, they are allowed to arrange alternative instruction. This alternative can be organized by themselves if the school's proposed alternatives are unsatisfactory.
• Funding for Alternative Instruction: The school board is not obligated to cover the expenses for alternative instruction that parents, guardians, or adult students choose to provide.
• Non-penalization: Students cannot be penalized academically or otherwise for participating in alternative instruction.
• Quality Assessment: School personnel are permitted to evaluate and assess the quality of students' work under the alternative instruction.
• Impact on Other Students: A request for alternative instruction by one parent or student does not change the access to instructional materials for other students in the district.
• Definition of Instructional Materials: The definition now includes online materials or media used as part of the school's structured curriculum.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill explicitly broadens the definition of instructional materials to encompass online content and media, thus updating the provisions for curriculum review to reflect the digital age.
• It ensures clarity that requesting alternative instruction is a personal decision and should not influence other students' access to materials.

Relevant Terms

parental curriculum review, alternative instruction, school district procedures, instructional materials, digital media, non-penalization, educational policy