SB 647 - Under this act, a parent or guardian may file with the school board a formal objection to any school policy, practice, or procedure which applies to the parent, guardian, or his or her child, including instructional materials or methods not required by state law. Within 30 days of receipt of the objection, the school board shall issue a response denying the parent's objection or describing an implementation plan to immediately exempt the child from the policy, practice, or procedure. School boards may deny parental objections that allege a de minimis infringement of parental rights or if the requested accommodation is unreasonable. An infringement is considered de minimis if it is not related to the content of curriculum or instruction and does not have a material impact on the child's care, custody, upbringing, education, religious instruction, place of habitation, or physical or mental health care.
Parents and guardians may appeal a school board’s denial by filing such appeal with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education within 15 days of the issuance of the denial.
A parent or guardian shall be awarded $1,500 or the total amount of the parent or guardian's contributions to local property taxes in the preceding year, whichever is greater, if the school district fails to show by clear and convincing evidence that it responded as required by the act. Such award shall only be used for the child's educational expenses.
This act is similar to SB 352 (2021).
JAMIE ANDREWS