A bill that the Iowa Senate recently passed looks at changing some ways of what is being taught in public schools.

District 24 Senator Jesse Green (R-Boone) tells Raccoon Valley Radio three highlights of the bill includes banning gender identity and sexual orientation curriculum in kindergarten through sixth grade, requiring a civics test to be given in high school and publishing all books that are available to students on a school district’s website, along with the process and explanation for parents to request a book to be reviewed or removed.

Green voted for the bill to move to the House and adds that this bill shouldn’t be viewed as a “book banning” bill, but a way for local control to remain with school boards, but have the process for which books can be reviewed more transparent for parents.

“When you look at some of the procedures in the past of when people have found in the curriculum and then they go to the Department of Education, and try to go through that process, it is such a stringent process. And most parents don’t have the time, or ability, or energy to go through that process. And in most cases, it does get resolved within the school board the way it should, but you always have a few situations where that doesn’t seem to work.”  

Opponents of the bill say it attacks vulnerable children in school districts. You can click the link below to view the bill.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF%20496&ga=90