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Bill

HB 1806

TO PROVIDE CURRICULUM TRANSPARENCY FOR PARENTS OF KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE STUDENTS; AND TO ALLOW A PARENT TO REVIEW AND OPT OUT OF SELECTED LIBRARY MEDIA MATERIALS FOR HIS OR HER CHILD.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Dotson and 1 co-sponsor

House Bill 1806 aimed to boost parental control in K-12 education by creating an online portal for reviewing instructional materials and opting out of certain library content.

Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 1806

Summary of House Bill 1806

Bill Information

  • Bill Number: HB 1806
  • Title: To Provide Curriculum Transparency for Parents of Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve Students; and to Allow a Parent to Review and Opt Out of Selected Library Media Materials for His or Her Child.
  • Status: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
  • Introduced: March 17, 2025
  • Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1806 aims to enhance transparency in educational curricula for parents of students in kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12). The bill seeks to establish a centralized online portal where parents, faculty, and staff can access instructional materials used in schools. Additionally, it allows parents to review and opt out of specific library media materials for their children.

Key Provisions

  1. Online Portal Creation:

    • The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education is required to create and maintain a centralized online portal for accessing instructional materials.
    • The portal will enable parents to:
      • Review summaries and full content of textbooks.
      • Search for instructional materials by district, school, and grade level.
      • Access library media materials and opt out of those they do not wish their child to access.

  2. Curriculum Transparency:

    • The portal is designed to provide transparency regarding the curriculum and instructional materials used in schools, reducing ambiguity for parents and school staff.
    • It aims to streamline access to Arkansas school standards and instructional materials, thereby reducing the workload for school employees.

  3. Implementation Timeline:

    • The portal is to be implemented by January 15, 2026, contingent upon available funding.

  4. Fiscal Impact:

    • The estimated cost for implementing the online portal is between $1,000,000 and $2,500,000, based on a per-student cost of $2 to $5 for approximately 500,000 students.

Affected Parties

  • Parents and Guardians: The bill directly impacts parents and guardians by providing them with greater control over their children's educational materials.
  • Students: K-12 students may have restricted access to certain library media materials based on parental preferences.
  • Schools and Educators: School districts and educators will need to adapt to the new requirements for transparency and access to instructional materials.

Legislative Actions

  • March 17, 2025: Bill filed and referred to the House Education Committee.
  • April 8, 2025: Returned with a recommendation to pass as amended.
  • April 10, 2025: Passed in the House and transmitted to the Senate.
  • May 5, 2025: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

House Bill 1806 represents an effort to increase parental involvement and transparency in K-12 education by providing access to instructional materials and allowing parents to opt out of certain library resources. However, the bill ultimately did not progress past the Senate Committee stage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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