Connecticut Lawmakers Move To Block Parents From Seeing Teacher-Student Communications

Connecticut’s leftist policymakers are using metaphorical language to describe their policies “Parents Not Welcome” signs on our state’s classroom doors by allowing teachers to avoid Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests about their communications with students.

The majority party in this General Assembly has introduced several bills to protect teachers since the school session started on January 4. “harassment” These are motivated by ideological differences. They also seek to restrict parental access to teacher/student communications. 

These bills were created in response to the rise in education as a national policy issue. This was after local school boards became a hotbed for controversy over issues such as school closures, masking, and inadequate online learning. There is also an obsession with skin color (or so-called equity). “social justice.” 

Nevertheless, American K-12 education has been a source of satisfaction. Flip from positive to negative — from 51 percent satisfied versus 47 percent dissatisfied in 2019 to 42 percent satisfied versus 55 percent dissatisfied in 2022. The national reading and math test scores are dropped considerably Because of pandemic lockdowns, scores fell even faster in Connecticut than the national average. 

The legislative majority is increasing its involvement in school-related matters due to parental involvement. Several bills this session seem intended to stymie parents’ efforts to discover what is happening in their children’s schools. 

The majority of the H.B. was proposed to allow teachers to avoid FOIA requests. 6192, also known as “An Act Concerning the Nondisclosure of Certain Communications between Teachers and Students.” The bill would not include the “definition of public record” Any communication between a teacher or student “that takes place during school-sponsored activities” Information “sensitive subjects, such as sexual orientation, gender identity and race, that occur during school-sponsored activities.” 

H.B. was also introduced by the majority. 6396, also known as “An Act Protecting Educators in Teaching Certain Subjects and Topics in Schools,” This bans the creation of local or regional boards for education. “punishing or otherwise restricting an educator from teaching about subjects in which ideological differences of opinion exist between such board and educator.” It is important to create a work environment. “free from harassment, intimidation or physical violence stemming from ideological differences of opinion.”

Harassment, intimidation, and physical violence are all not justified. But prohibiting boards of education from overseeing curriculum — which is one of their primary functions — limits their utility and is undemocratic, as the boards represent the will of the voters who elected them. If this bill were to become law, teachers would presumably be entitled to praise. “The 1619 Project” You can deny or accept slavery without any consequences.

Communities have a right to know what is being taught in classrooms because their taxpayers are footing the bill for the children’s education. The minority party, however, has many proposals. “allow parents to meaningfully participate in the education process,” Transparency has been a rallying cry of parental rights groups. 

H.B. 5270 would require a local or regional board of education to make all K-12 curriculum materials available online and allow for public comment “at all regular