The House passed a bill requiring transparency when it comes to classroom plans and materials for teachers to follow. 

House District 20 Representative Ray Sorensen says this would increase parents’ access to what is being taught to their child. Sorensen describes what this bill would look like in schools.

“School districts and teachers are required to post their syllabus and textbooks and their related materials to an online portal. And most teachers already are using an online platform, and they’re already meeting the requirements. This is just allowing parents access to what the teachers are posting to their online platforms.”

He says that schools that don’t have the classroom management systems will have until 2024 to get that program. Sorensen explains he has gotten numerous messages from parents asking for transparency due to inappropriate material that’s been shown in classrooms and in libraries. Lawmakers who opposed this bill argue this will add to already overworked teachers.

“One of the guys that helped write the legislation is currently an eighth grade teacher in Ankeny, and he said it literally will take minutes because it’s something like he said that so many schools are already doing.”

Sorensen says there will be no heavy handed consequences on teachers but the following school district could face a civil penalty and the possible loss of a teacher’s license for those who do no adhere to the policy. This bill will have to be passed by the Senate before it goes into law.