Behind the Poll:
Pennsylvania governor vetoes measure aimed at increasing transparency in school curriculum
Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have given parents a closer look at what their children are learning in school.
Wolf argued in his veto message the requirements in House Bill 1332 that public schools give parents online access to class materials is “overly burdensome” and claimed ulterior motives behind the “dangerous and harmful imposition.”
“Under the guise of transparency, this legislation politicizes what is being taught in our public schools,” Wolf wrote. “State regulations adopted by the State Board of Education already require that public schools provide parents and guardians with course curriculum and instructional materials upon request. In addition, textbooks are adopted by school boards in meetings open to the public.
“Therefore, requiring all public schools to publish on their website the details of every textbook, course syllabus or written summary of each course, and the relevant academic standards for each course is not only duplicative, but overly burdensome.”
Wolf said the “onerous requirements of this bill fall on educators” who should be focused on more important issues, and pointed to unnamed “shareholder groups” in opposition.
