LINCOLN — After trying in 2023 for a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” in public K-12 schools, Nebraska’s Education Committee chair returned this year with a thinner proposal on content, libraries and more.
State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil tried to pass Legislative Bill 374, the “Parents’ Bill of Rights and Academic Transparency Act,” last year and came back this year with LB 1399. He told the Education Committee that while his previous bill received “great support,” some teachers and school officials were concerned it “may be a bit too burdensome on their part.”
“Teaching is already a difficult profession,” Murman testified. “I’ve tried to put in the work to find some more reasonable compromises.”
LB 1399 would: Set a time frame for which parents may obtain instructional or training materials upon request (10 business days).
Clarify how curriculum materials, activities, surveys and more are approved, how parents may attend during the school day and how they may excuse their student from content.
Maintain an online database of library books available for checkout and allow parents to opt in for an email notification detailing what their student checks out.
Requiring that schools wishing to administer surveys to students must obtain parental consent and allow parents to see their students’ results.
The bill would also update a 1994 law on parental involvement, Murman said, requiring schools to foster and facilitate the “fullest transparency allowed by law,” instead of merely “informing” parents or guardians.
“Parental involvement and transparency were important goals 30 years ago,” Murman said. “What I hope to do with LB 1399 is not to alter that goal but instead provide a more reasonable framework to be put in place to make sure the goal of the original 1994 law is really working.”
Allie French, a 2024 legislative candidate endorsed by the new leadership of the NEGOP, said she was testifying for Nebraskans Against Government Overreach, in support of the bill. She said members have requested records and gotten a nebulous time frame for when they will receive them, and LB 1399 would clarify those steps and the chain of command.
However, French expressed concern the bill would not take effect until July 1, 2025, if passed, which Murman said is to allow schools more time to implement the law.
Murman said LB 1399 comes after working with the Nebraska Association of School Boards and local school board members — specifically from Central City, Kearney, DC West and Plattsmouth — but he understood they were not yet on board. They were the first to testify in opposition.
Jeremy Shuey, a school board member in Plattsmouth, testified on behalf of the Nebraska Association of School Boards. He said the association’s preference is a separate measure: LB 71 from State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue.
LB 71, which seven of eight committee members voted to advance, including Murman, has not yet been scheduled for floor debate. It does not address surveys or libraries.
Shuey said LB 1399 could be complicated to implement, such as when training materials for teachers are owned by third parties, because they might run into copyright or trademark constraints. He also raised concerns about the phrase “will accommodate” regarding parents or guardians who want to attend school activities.
“We must safeguard the authority of districts to manage their classrooms efficiently,” Shuey said. “This could cause significant disruption without common sense boundaries.”
Kyle McGowan told the committee that LB 71 is the favorable path forward on behalf of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, Nebraska State Education Association, Greater Nebraska Schools Association, Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, Schools Taking Action for Nebraska Childrens’ Education and Stand For Schools.
Shuey took aim at a specific provision of LB 1399 requiring school boards to allow any parent or guardian to provide a five-minute presentation of a library book or material in the possession of their child’s school district.
