Connecticut Democrats have proposed a bill limiting information about discussions teachers may have with their students about "sensitive subjects."
The proposed bill would prohibit Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests pertaining to teacher communications with students that involve subjects like sexual orientation, gender identity or race. According to its text, the proposed law is intended to protect public school teachers.
Titled the "Act Concerning the Nondisclosure of Certain Communications Between Teachers and Students," the new bill was introduced by Democratic state Reps. Sarah Keitt, Dominique Johnson, Cristin McCarthy Vahey and Jennifer Leeper.
FOIA laws are longstanding statutes which allow the public to access records, information or communications belonging to any entity that is funded by the government.
"The language in this bill is very concerning and seems to be a deliberate attempt to hide information from parents and the public," Erika Sanzi, director of outreach at nonprofit Parents Defending Education, told The National Desk (TND). "Every parent has a right to know what their children are being told and taught, especially when it comes to these subjects that have become highly ideological and politicized in the classroom."
Sanzi insisted parents should know if a school official tells a young girl she may have been born in the wrong body or tells a boy he could identify as a girl because he likes playing with dolls and having long hair.
"It isn't okay to tinker in the minds of children and keep it a secret," Sanzi added.
The proposed bill also covers conversations about race that may happen in school.
Investigations from nonprofit Accuracy in Media (AIM) found that even in states where critical race theory is banned from being taught in schools, students are still being fed the foundational concepts that make up CRT.
"If students are being denigrated or shamed because of their race or ethnicity, parents and the public need to know," Sanzi told TND. "As a former teacher, I find it incomprehensible that anyone would put forth a bill with the purpose of hiding information from parents about their own children."
TND reached out to each of the Democratic state legislators in Connecticut who introduced the bill. Specifically, TND asked them how students would be protected under their proposed law if a teacher happens to take advantage of a situation involving one of the aforementioned "sensitive subjects."
TND did not receive a response, but if one is obtained, this story will be updated.