Bill Summary: Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act (HB 1551)

• Creates the "Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act" to protect classroom discussion of scientific controversies in areas such as biological evolution, chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning.

• Directs State Board of Education, district boards, superintendents, and administrators to create school environments encouraging students to explore scientific questions and develop critical thinking skills regarding controversial scientific topics.

• Permits teachers to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review the scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to their courses.

• Prohibits educational authorities from preventing teachers from presenting objective scientific analysis of theories and prevents students from being penalized for holding particular positions on scientific theories.

• Requires the State Department of Education to notify all district superintendents by the 2012-2013 school year and mandate they disseminate the act's provisions to all employees.