Schools by State

Amends the School Code. With regard to the textbook block grant program, provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must include the roles and contributions of all people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act and must be non-discriminatory as to any of the characteristics under the Act. Provides that textbooks purchased with grant funds must be non-discriminatory. Provides that in public schools only, the teaching of history of the United States shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a law requiring Boards of Education to include instruction, and adopt instructional materials, that accurately portray political, economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

"A school district must first offer instruction that meets the academic content standards...no later than the 2026-27 school year" (Section 2.3.a); "Every district school board...are responsible for the adoption of textbooks and other instructional materials...[which] shall adequately address the roles in and contributions to the economic, political and social development of Oregon and the U.S. by men and women who: (5) Are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. (Section 3.1-5)

Section 1. Chapter 389 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a new section to read as follows: 1. The board of trustees of each school district and the governing body of each charter school shall ensure that instruction is provided to pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 in each public school within the school district or in the charter school, as applicable, on the history and contributions to science, the arts and humanities of: (a) Native Americans and Native American tribes;(b) Persons of marginalized sexual orientation or gender identity; (c) Persons with disabilities; (d) Persons from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, including, without limitation, persons who are African-American, Basque, Hispanic or Asian or Pacific Islander; (e) Persons from various socioeconomic statuses; (f) Immigrants or refugees; (g) Persons from various religious backgrounds; and (h) Any other group of persons the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school deems appropriate. 2. The standards of content and performance for the instruction required by subsection 1 must be included in the standards of content and performance established by the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools pursuant to NRS 389.520. The instruction required by subsection 1 must be: (a) Age-appropriate; and (b) Included within one or more courses of study for which the Council has established the relevant standards of content and performance.

See 1, 2, and 3 in NEW SECTION Sec. 2. of the bill for the role of the state education agency and see 4, as follows, for the role of local education agencies: By October 1, 2025, school district boards of directors must amend the policy and procedures required under RCW 28A.320.230 to conform with the model policy and procedure required by this section. Additionally, by October 1, 2025, charter school boards and schools subject to state-tribal education compacts must adopt or amend their policies and procedures governing curricula adoption and the selection of instructional materials to conform with the model policy and procedure required by this section. For the purpose of documenting compliance with this section and assisting school districts in accordance with section 6 of this act, school district boards of directors, within 10 days of completing the policy and procedure updates required by this subsection shall provide notice of the completed actions and electronic copies of the applicable policies and procedures to the office of the superintendent of public instruction.