Senator Nelson’s Academic Balance Bill Passes Education Policy Committee
Last week, my bill re
quiring academic balance passed the Minnesota Senate Education Policy Committee. The bill is in response to recent reports of bias and agenda-driven curriculum in Minnesota public schools that appear to favor one particular political, ideological, or moral outlook, at the expense of another.
As a former public school teacher, I understand that neither students, nor teachers, check their free speech when they enter a public school. However, no student should fear that their grade hinges on political or ideological agreement with their teacher. This commonsense policy reinforces existing nondiscrimination standards, and strengthens local accountability through the establishment of a reporting procedure.
Just like current state law that requires school board policies for bullying, harassment, hazing, and many other topics, this legislation would establish locally determined academic balance policies for staff and students. The academic balance policy must at a minimum 1) prevent employees from requiring students to express their personal political or social beliefs for academic credit; 2) create a learning environment with access to a broad range of opinions pertaining to the subject of study; 3) prohibit assessment based on political, ideological, or religious beliefs; and 4) prohibit the introduction of controversial subject matter without a relationship to the subject being taught. The legislation also guarantees that any district adopted policy cannot violate any collectively bargained agreements.
If teachers want to advocate on behalf of their political, ideological, religious, or anti-religious views, they are entitled to do so. However, they are not entitled to do so before an audience of captive students, at taxpayers’ expense.
School Safety Bills Advance in Senate
This week, multiple bills targeting school safety were heard in Senate committees. The bills included flexible funding for building security, mental health, school counselors, and other safety measures. My bipartisan bill for Safe Schools Revenue provides one-time revenue for safe schools that can be used for a variety of things including mental health, school counselors, structural building improvements, school safety officers, and more.
The national debate on school safety has been focused in the wrong direction. Safe schools aid can be used to make school buildings safer, hire more school resource officers, mental health professionals, school counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and alcohol dependency counselors. We want our schools to be safer, and for schools to be able to provide mental health and counseling services. Every school is different and we want to empower those who know their students and school best. Please see my video below for more information on the subject.
I met with high school students from around the state representing Schools for Equity in Education. We discussed the importance of a high quality education for all students, regardless of where they live. Pictured (from left to right): Anna Panek (Albany), Emily Haus (Rocori), Senator Nelson, Alexa Hennen (Rocori), Anna Tomovic (Rocori)
This week, I also met with a large group of superintendents from the Southwest/West Central Minnesota School Co-op. We discussed E-12 education in Minnesota, keeping our schools safe, and how best to preserve local control in education.
I also attended the Council on Latino Affairs’ Coffee and Donuts event. I was pleased to be joined by many of my legislative colleagues. 