Schools would be required to show parents any sexually explicit content under a bill that passed the Virginia Senate and is endorsed by the state's new governor.
The bill, SB 656, requires the state Department of Education to develop a policy for public schools "ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content," according to the text. The phrase "sexually explicit content" uses a definition already in state law.
If parents object to the content, then their child would be given "nonexplicit instructional material" and "related academic activities," according to the bill's text.
The bill passed the state Senate, 20-18, and now moves to the state House. Democrats control the Senate, while Republicans control the House.
Passage was assured when two Democrats, Sens. Lynwood Lewis and Monty Mason, joined with Republicans.
School boards would have until Jan. 1, 2023, to implement the new law. The Department of Education would be required to develop policies by July 31, 2022.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin supports the bill.
Sen. Bill DeSteph, a Republican and a bill sponsor, said his goal is to give parents more tools in educating their children.
"I'm not trying to ban anything or burn anything – all I want to say is, let's let the parents say it's okay for their child to see this," he said.
The bill's text says it "shall not be construed as requiring or providing for the censoring of books in public elementary and secondary schools."
The issue was a central part of the 2020 gubernatorial campaign between Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe.
"What we've seen over the course of the last 20 months is our school systems refusing to engage with parents," Youngkin said during a debate before addressing McAuliffe. "... You believe school systems should tell children what to do. I believe parents should be in charge of their kids' education."
Related:
Terry McAuliffe: 'I Don't Think Parents Should Be Telling Schools' What to Teach Children
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Skynesher
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
