In the near future, I will be re-introducing The Honesty in Education Act (formerly known as The Anti-Indoctrination in Education Act).

For education to create citizens capable of self-government, students need to engage with a variety of viewpoints on challenging issues, led by teachers who understand that there is greater value in promoting independent thinking than in advancing their own beliefs.

Teachers should be prepared to help students become discerning consumers of information, to evaluate and analyze information, to question and verify the credibility of its source, and to make their own reasoned judgments supported by evidence.

This legislation will:

• Re-affirm Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Establish guidelines for the PA Department of Education to assist teachers when teaching challenging and controversial issues.
• Give parents and school entities a clear path for complaints, investigation, and transparency when a civil rights violation is alleged to have occurred, and a process to remedy when a violation is confirmed upon investigation, which includes requiring a school entity notify parents of the civil rights violation.

Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation to protect the rights of students and promote viewpoint diversity in the classroom.
 
Cosponsors of HB 211, 2023-2024: STAMBAUGH, HAMM, STAATS, OWLETT, ROWE, LEADBETER, MOUL, SMITH, ZIMMERMAN AND KEEFER