Parents’ Bill of Rights Passes Senate 

Last week, my colleagues and I passed Senate Bills 4, 42 & 89 to provide transparency in our state’s K-12 schools. This legislation creates the Parents’ Bill of Rights to encourage parents to be more involved in their child’s education and know what is being taught in schools. This legislation also requires the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish the Missouri Education Transparency and Accountability Portal to allow citizens access to every school’s curriculum, textbooks, source materials and syllabi.

I believe there is a severe lack of transparency in our state’s public schools. Parents should have sole authority on the upbringing of their child, and they should have the right to review class discussion topics and the materials used in their child’s classroom. This legislation bans the teaching of certain concepts, including “that any race, ethnicity, color or national origin are inherently superior or inferior.” However, this proposal is clear that it should not be construed to prohibit constitutionally protected speech, access to research or study materials or the discussion or assignment of materials for educational purposes. It should also not be construed to prevent teachers from discussing current events in a historical context or courses including, but not limited to, African American history, Native American history, women's history, Asian American History and Hispanic history.

I pre-filed this bill last December as one of my top priorities for the 2023 legislative session. After being first read on the first day of session, it was second read and referred to the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee. I then presented SB 4 to the committee, and during committee deliberation of the bill, it was combined with Senate Bill 42 and Senate Bill 89, which were both substantially similar to my legislation.

Then, SB 4 was ready for the part of the legislative process you’re probably most familiar with: floor debate. After a robust discussion with my colleagues and working to find compromises, we passed the legislation and sent it to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration. Now, it will follow the same legislative path as in the Senate. I am hopeful the House will pass this important transparency legislation and send it to the governor’s desk for his signature.

As always, it is an honor and privilege serving you in the Missouri General Assembly. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or ideas to improve our state government. Thank you for reading my Capitol Report and I look forward to sharing more of our work with you soon.