GOP pushes to have Az teachers post lessons online over 'critical race theory' fears

Originally Published on the Tuscon Sentinel

To allow parents to scour lessons for elements of "critical race theory," Arizona teachers would be required to upload a list of every book and worksheet they use in their classrooms online for parental review if a Republican-backed bill becomes law.

The goal, says state Sen. Nancy Barto, is to increase transparency for parents who are concerned about their children's education. Senate Bill 1211 requires schools to publicly post all materials and class activities on their website at least 7 days after being used. That means the names, authors, and organizations associated with the materials, along with links if they're available for free online or descriptions if they're not. Materials encompass everything from textbooks and worksheets to YouTube videos and phone apps.

Lesson plans that include topics like race, gender, diversity and non-discrimination must be posted at least 72 hours before they're carried out.

"More sunshine on what our kids are involved in is a great thing," Barto, the Phoenix Republican who introduced the bill, said.

This is the second attempt to enshrine this into law, and a response to conservatives' concern about so-called "critical race theory" being taught in classrooms. Conservatives have appropriated critical race theory as a catchall to describe basically any serious attempt to teach the history of race and racism in America.

Nicole Solas flew in from Rhode Island in support of the bill during a hearing on Tuesday afternoon. Solas was sued by the National Education Association after she filed more than 200 public records requests to determine whether her daughter's school taught critical race theory. Solas said she was testifying on Arizona legislation so she could take the ideas back to Rhode Island.

She is being represented by the Goldwater Institute, a Phoenix-based libertarian think tank that drafted the bill and is using it as model legislation in other states. Matt Beienburg, Goldwater Institute's education policy director, said the organization supports other proposed bills of the same vein in 20 other states…