SF0103 • 2022

Education-limitations on teaching critical race history-2.

AN ACT relating to education; creating limitations on aspects of a specified program; providing a definition; and providing for an effective date.

Education

Inactive

Wyoming marks this bill as inactive, which usually means it is no longer moving in the current session.

Sponsor: Senator McKeown
Last action: 2022-03-08
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was marked as inactive, which means it did not pass in its current session and may need further action in future sessions.

Education Rules for Teaching About Race and Gender

The bill sets rules about how schools can teach certain topics related to race and gender without promoting indoctrination or psychological distress.

What This Bill Does

Adds new rules to Wyoming education laws regarding teaching specific subjects.
Requires instruction on the U.S. Constitution and Wyoming's constitution, including American ideals.
Outlines principles for teaching topics like sexism, slavery, racial oppression, segregation, and discrimination without making students feel bad or forcing them to believe a specific viewpoint.
Allows teachers to discuss these topics in ways that are suitable for different age groups.

Who It Names or Affects

Schools supported by public funds
Students receiving high school diplomas, associate degrees, and baccalaureate degrees

Terms To Know

indoctrination: Teaching someone to accept ideas without questioning them.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how schools should implement these rules.
It is unclear what specific topics or materials would be considered inappropriate under the new rules.
This bill was marked as inactive, meaning it did not pass in its current session.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SF0103S3001

3rd reading • Senator Biteman

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes how certain topics in education must be taught by adding specific principles that instruction and materials should follow.

Removes previous committee amendments and replaces them with new principles for teaching about race, sex, and related historical events.
Adds guidelines stating no person is inherently racist or sexist based on their identity alone.
Includes a principle that meritocracy and hard work are not racist but important values.
Specifies that instructional materials should address topics like sexism and racial oppression in an age-appropriate way without indoctrinating students.

The amendment's text does not specify how these principles will be enforced or monitored in schools.

SF0103S3002

3rd reading • Senator Steinmetz

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment removes a previous change and adds language to prohibit teaching certain divisive philosophies, specifically mentioning critical race theory.

Removes an earlier amendment (SF0103S3001/A).
Adds new text that prohibits teaching philosophies like critical race theory in schools.

The exact impact and scope of the term 'divisive philosophies' is not fully defined, leaving some uncertainty about what exactly would be prohibited.
It's unclear how this amendment will affect existing educational programs or materials related to critical race theory.

SF0103SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Education Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes certain words from a bill about education and changes how it talks about promoting divisions or hatred.

Removed the word 'divisive' and 'often' from specific parts of the bill text.
Deleted an entire line that was originally part of the bill.
Replaced deleted content with new wording to say that programs should not promote divisions or hatred based on certain criteria.
Adjusted punctuation by removing a comma and adding 'or' after 'color', and inserting a period after 'origin'.

The exact impact of these changes on the overall meaning of the bill is unclear without seeing the full context.

Bill History

2022-03-08 House
H:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to HR 5-4
2022-03-08 House
H No report prior to CoW Cutoff
2022-03-02 House
H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education
2022-02-23 House
H Received for Introduction
2022-02-23 Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 25-4-1-0-0
2022-02-22 Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2022-02-21 Senate
S COW:Passed
2022-02-18 Senate
S Placed on General File
2022-02-18 Senate
S04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2022-02-17 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education 25-5-0-0-0
2022-02-16 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2022-02-15 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

22LSO-0127
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0127
ENGROSSED
3.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0103

Education-limitations on teaching critical race history-2.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) McKeown, Biteman, Bouchard, Hutchings and James and Representative(s) Fortner, Hallinan, Laursen and Wharff

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to education; creating limitations on aspects of a specified program; providing a definition; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
102 is amended to read:

21
‑
9
‑
102.

Instruction in state and federal constitutions required; limitation; satisfactory examination a prerequisite to graduation.

(a)

All schools and colleges in this state that are supported in any manner by public funds shall give instruction in the essentials of the United States
constitution and the constitution of the state of Wyoming, including the study of and devotion to American institution and ideals, and no student shall receive a high school diploma, associate degree or baccalaureate degree without satisfactorily passing an examination on the principles of the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming.

The instruction shall be given for at least three (3) years in kindergarten through grade eight (8) and for one (1) year each in the secondary and college grades.

(b)

Instruction on the topics enumerated in this section and any supporting materials shall be consistent with the following principles of individual freedom:

(i)

No person is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, solely by virtue of his race or sex;

(ii)

No race is inherently superior to another race;

(iii)

No person shall be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly on the basis
of race, color, national origin, religion, disability or sex;

(iv)

Meritocracy or traits, including a hard work ethic, are not racist but are fundamental to the right to pursue happiness and to be rewarded for industriousness;

(v)

No person, by virtue of his race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;

(vi)

No person shall be made to feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his race;

(vii)

Instructional personnel may facilitate discussions and use curricula to address, in an age
‑
appropriate manner, the topics of sexism, slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation and racial discrimination, including topics relating to the enactment and enforcement of laws resulting in sexism, racial oppression, racial segregation and racial discrimination. Classroom instruction and curricula shall not be used to
indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles of this subsection or state academic standards.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2022
.

(END)

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