To: The Kansas State House, The Kansas State Senate, and Governor Laura Kelly
Say "No" to the KS "Opt-In" School Mandate Bill
Kansas legislators should vote "no" on Substitute House Bill 2307. This bill would deny Kansas students from receiving factual and effective reproductive health education and take away decisions from local school districts.
Why is this important?
House Bill 2307 places severe restrictions on schools' ability to teach reproductive health. This bill would forbid schools from giving out ANY information on reproductive health (even hanging an abstinence poster) unless EVERY student that might see it has an "opt-in" consent form on record. It would increase staff time and costs to schools to fulfill state-ordered mandates. It would place undue burdens and put implied threats on our trusted teachers and school nurses. Worst of all, it would place our young people at even greater risk for teen pregnancy and STD's.
When "opt-in" mandates are in place, by far, the students most affected and denied appropriate education are the students who are already facing difficult home lives.
HB 2307 is a massive overreach, seizing decisions from local school districts and replacing them with state mandates that are completely against credible research.
This bill will be harmful to both students and schools alike and should be rejected by legislators of both parties.
Parents already may "opt-out" of reproductive education for their children. "Opt-in" mandates are unnecessary and harmful.
To view this bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2307_01_0000.pdf
When "opt-in" mandates are in place, by far, the students most affected and denied appropriate education are the students who are already facing difficult home lives.
HB 2307 is a massive overreach, seizing decisions from local school districts and replacing them with state mandates that are completely against credible research.
This bill will be harmful to both students and schools alike and should be rejected by legislators of both parties.
Parents already may "opt-out" of reproductive education for their children. "Opt-in" mandates are unnecessary and harmful.
To view this bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2307_01_0000.pdf