HF3739 - Academic Balance Policy

• School boards must adopt a written academic balance policy applicable to pupils, teachers, administrators, and school personnel, with reporting procedures and disciplinary actions conforming to collective bargaining agreements and Minnesota Statutes sections 121A.41 to 121A.56.

• Policies must prohibit school employees from requiring students or other employees to express specified social or political viewpoints for academic credit, extracurricular participation, or employment conditions.

• Schools must provide a learning environment with access to a broad range of serious opinions on subjects studied, including contemporary policy controversies, and prohibit political, ideological, religious, or antireligious indoctrination.

• Students must be assessed on reasoned answers and appropriate knowledge of subjects studied without discrimination based on political, ideological, or religious beliefs.

• Classroom teachers must exercise caution when expressing personal views and must not introduce controversial matters unrelated to the subject taught or outside their special competence or training; charter schools must also comply with this policy.