Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly rejects ‘parents bill of rights’ amid school curriculum debate

Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed Friday a so-called "parents' bill of rights," designed to increase the ability for parents to inspect and review curriculum used in classrooms.

The measure has been fiercely opposed by educators as overly burdensome, though the proposal that hit Kelly's desk, Senate Bill 58, was less restrictive than other options that were considered in the Legislature.

Still, Kelly previously called the bill a "teacher demoralization act" and said in her veto message that it was "about politics, not parents."

She added the bill would cause division when Democrats and Republicans should be working to ensure the state's schools are fully funded.

"Over one hundred Kansas parents testified against this bill," Kelly said in the veto message. "It would create more division in our schools and would be costly. Money that should be spent in the classroom would end up being spent in the courtroom."

More: Parents' rights or burden on teachers? Lawmakers spar over school transparency bills.

Bill vetoed amid national debate over school curriculum

The bill comes amid a national debate over curriculum in schools and other states have enacted similar laws.

Kansas' bill would have required school districts develop policies allowing parents to be informed of what is being taught in their child's classroom and letting them examine lesson plans, examinations, textbooks and other course materials.

"One size doesn't fit all as far as how that community, particularly that school district, is providing for the needs of parents and kids in the community for them to have that sense of transparency," Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, said of the bill earlier this month.

More: Kansas lawmakers debated past midnight before leaving. Here's where bills stand.

Moreover, parents could also object to activities or materials that violate "their firmly held beliefs, values or principles" and withdraw their student from participating in those areas.

And a challenge could also be filed about the "material or educational" benefit of books or resources in a school library, with a successful appeal resulting in the item's removal.

Parents and even legislators have publicly criticized school districts across Kansas for what they view as objectionable books and materials in libraries and classrooms.

Free speech advocacy group PEN America found a notable rise in the number of attempts to remove materials from libraries nationally, including in Kansas.

More: Critical race theory debate in Kansas shifts to curriculum transparency

Parents bill of rights likely to play role in gubernatorial campaign

The issue is likely to be one that crops up in the gubernatorial race between Kelly and likely GOP nominee, Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Joanna Rodriguez, spokesperson for the Republican Governors' Association, was quick to attack Kelly, saying she "will always choose the teachers' unions funding her campaign over Kansas students and parents."

When the bill passed the Legislature earlier this month, Republicans lacked the two-thirds majority required to override a veto from Kelly.

Republicans are four votes shy of reaching the 27-vote threshold needed to override in the Kansas Senate, while 17 additional votes would be needed in the Kansas House.

Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes Kansas school curriculum transparency bill