Thread by @oliviakrauth

Y'all, I know it is Friday night, but I have a 🚨 new bill alert.

House Bill 487 is an anti-"CRT" bill. This will be the fourth filed in #KYGA22.

Let's chat. 🧵

HB 487, from Reps. Matt Lockett and Jennifer Decker, would prohibit "any classroom instruction, discussion, or instructional materials that promote bigotry, revisionist history, or critical social justice."

Unlike Lockett and Decker's first attempt at this type of legislation, HB 18, this bill specifically says it shouldn't be used to block historical instruction or student speech.

HB 487 spends more than two pages outlining specific banned concepts. They largely center around the same themes as previous anti-CRT bills.

Here's one

Textbooks, materials, instruction, etc. can discuss the historical existence of these things or how they swayed officials so long as they do not ...

State agencies and local school districts also could not use public dollars for speakers or trainers to talk to students or staff about any of the barred concepts — basically ending all race-related training.

Anyone who has an issue with something being taught would file a complaint with OEA, which would then tell the school district but would not investigate on its own (not how OEA works).

It doesn't look like complaints would be subject to records requests.

And, if a lengthy district/OEA investigation process is not successful, someone would be allowed to sue a district for supposedly violating the law.

Oh, and the AG can also sue school districts over supposed violations of the law.

OH, this bill would also move curriculum selection power from school-based councils to the superintendent.

Schools would be required to post a "detailed list" of primary instructional materials for each course online, and allow for on-site review of said materials if a parent requests it.

Back to OEA: They would need to conduct an annual review of districts' curriculum transparency, including sharing all complaints tied to this bill filed with OEA and the district's response.

After outlining a number of things you can't talk about, the bill says giving students a full and unbiased history is important.

Like Senate Bill 138, this bill outlines a number of things that should be included in history curriculum including this paragraph.

(SB 138 got criticized by the state edu chief for not following the state's curriculum setting process)

Also got some "socialism is bad" teachings because "unbiased" history classes are important.

Yes, this seems to really go with the "unbiased" language earlier in the bill.

Yes, we're still going.

EPSB would have the power to stop approving teacher prep programs if they use anything the violates the concepts from the start of the bill.

Remember, there is a teacher shortage right now.

"Whereas it is imperative that the racist indoctrination of Commonwealth of Kentucky students be eradicated," the bill is filed as an emergency and would take effect immediately after becoming law.

Y'all, I'm exhausted. This is the link to the full bill.

Incredibly, I am the Saturday breaking news reporter, so I will likely have more on this tomorrow.

apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/22rs/hb…

I will add: This bill does NOT require Reagan's "A Time for Choosing" speech.

I'll be discussing this bill more in next week's newsletter, so sign up for The Hall Pass now:

courier-journal.com/story/news/edu…