Purpose

This bill aims to restrict what is taught or discussed in public school classrooms by prohibiting classroom instruction or discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8). It also assigns the state Education Commissioner the responsibility to create guidelines to help schools implement and enforce this prohibition.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition of instruction and discussion: Individuals or groups providing classroom instruction to students in public schools may not engage in classroom discussion or provide classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity to students in kindergarten through grade 8.
• Guidance to schools: The commissioner must develop and provide guidelines to schools to implement and enforce this prohibition.
• Legal codification: The provision would be added as a new section within Minnesota Statutes, specifically relating to chapters 120B and 121A.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• New explicit restriction: Establishes a statewide ban on discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in early grades within public schools.
• Creation of enforcement guidance: Requires formal guidelines from the state education agency to implement and enforce the prohibition, shifting some regulatory oversight to the commissioner.
• Codification of a new statutory section: Adds a defined prohibition into Minnesota law, altering how curriculum content in K-8 is governed with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Relevant Terms - sexual orientation - gender identity - classroom instruction - classroom discussion - kindergarten through grade 8 (K-8) - public schools - commissioner - guidelines - implement - enforce - Minnesota Statutes - chapters 120B and 121A - prohibition - new law / codification