Vermont H 168: An act relating to daylight saving time

Bill Text

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VT LEG #379161 v.2
H.168 1
Introduced by Representatives Headrick of Burlington and McCann of 2
Montpelier 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Education; teachers; academic freedom; State Board of Education; 6
EQS; supervisory union board duties; course of study 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to (1) prohibit 8
restriction in public schools of instruction on social equity and justice; (2) 9
require instruction in public schools on social equity and justice; (3) require 10
public schools to adopt policies that affirm the dignity of educators and 11
students; (4) prohibit the influence of privately funded groups on the 12
development of public school curriculum; (5) amend the minimum course of 13
study to include social equity and justice; (6) require the Agency of Education 14
to develop resources and supports for LGBTQIA+ students and families; and 15
(7) prohibit adverse action against teachers for performing work activities in a 16
manner consistent with State or federal law. 17
An act relating to protecting academic freedom for prekindergarten through 18
grade 12 educators 19

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VT LEG #379161 v.2
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
Sec. 1. PURPOSE; INTENT 2
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this act is to safeguard the academic freedom 3
of Vermont’s public educators in grades prekindergarten through grade 12, 4
inclusive, to provide instruction on topics related to social equity and justice, to 5
affirm and respect diverse identities, and to ensure that curriculum decisions 6
remain under the purview of Vermont’s public education authorities without 7
external influence. 8
(b) Intent. It is the intent of the General Assembly that nothing in this act 9
be construed to alter, amend, or conflict with existing educational standards 10
adopted by the State Board of Education, including the Common Core State 11
Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, or impose additional 12
requirements on the development or implementation of curricula beyond those 13
contained in 16 V.S.A. §§ 164 and 165. It is not the intent of the General 14
Assembly to mandate or dictate specific curriculum or instructional materials. 15
It is the intent of the General Assembly for curriculum development and 16
implementation to remain the responsibility of supervisory unions within the 17
standards set by the State Board of Education. This act is intended solely to 18
safeguard academic freedom and ensure inclusive instruction on topics related 19
to social equity and justice. 20

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VT LEG #379161 v.2
Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 914 is added to read: 1
§ 914. PROHIBITION ON THE RESTRICTION OF INSTRUCTION ON 2
SOCIAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE 3
(a) Prohibition. The State Board of Education, supervisory union boards, 4
and school boards shall not prohibit public educators from providing 5
instruction on topics of social equity or social justice. 6
(b) Instruction. 7
(1) Instruction in public schools may include: 8
(A) historical systems of oppression and exclusion; 9
(B) the concept of race and gender as social constructs; and 10
(C) social identities and the intersection of power and privilege 11
within those identities. 12
(2) All public school curricula shall allow for a broad range of books, 13
literature, and media to support instruction on the topics contained in 14
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 15
(3) No instructional tools or materials shall be removed from classrooms 16
without prior review by the State Board of Education. Library material 17
selection policies and procedures for the reconsideration and retention of 18
materials shall comply with section 1624 of this title. 19

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VT LEG #379161 v.2
(4) Public educators shall not be prohibited from using a gender-1
affirming approach in the educator’s instruction, including honoring students’ 2
stated preferred names and pronouns. 3
(5) Educators shall have the right to integrate personal perspectives, 4
cultural identities, and lived experiences into their teaching methods, provided 5
they meet professional standards established by the Standards Board for 6
Professional Educators. 7
(6) Curriculum development and implementation shall remain the 8
responsibility of supervisory unions within the standards set by the State Board 9
of Education. 10
Sec. 3. 16 V.S.A. § 165 is amended to read: 11
§ 165. EDUCATION QUALITY STANDARDS; EQUAL EDUCATIONAL 12
OPPORTUNITIES; INDEPENDENT SCHOOL MEETING 13
EDUCATION QUALITY STANDARDS 14
(a) In order to carry out Vermont’s policy that all Vermont children will be 15
afforded educational opportunities that are substantially equal in quality, each 16
Vermont public school, including each career technical center, shall meet the 17
following education quality standards, which shall foster inclusivity and aff