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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a series of controversial education bills regulating what public schools can teach and the playing of sports by transgender youth Thursday morning.
Some of the bills drew a lot of attention, including a bill aimed at critical race theory. The measure bans nine “divisive concepts” from being taught in Georgia classrooms, including that the United States is “fundamentally racist.”
This bill also mandates the Georgia High School Association to determine whether transgender girls should be allowed to participate in school sports.
“We are putting students and parents first by keeping awake politics out of the classroom and out of the stadiums,” Governor Kemp said before signing the legislation.
Prohibited “divisive notions” include claims that the United States is “fundamentally or systematically racist,” that any person is “racial or oppressive in nature, whether conscious or unconscious,” and that no person should “feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or Any other person has another form of psychological distress because of his or her race.” Bills using identical language have been proposed in dozens of states, with support from the Center for Renewal of America, a think tank led by former Trump administration officials.
School districts will have to respond to complaints, and people who don’t like the result can file an appeal with the state board of education. If the board finds a school district at fault, it can suspend some or all of its waivers from state regulations.
The governor also signed the Parental Rights Act, which proponents said gives parents and guardians more access and control over the materials their children see at school.
In the final minutes of the 2022 legislative session, lawmakers stuffed a bill dealing with transgender athletes into the “concept split” bill. Under the soon-to-be law, the Georgia High School League “may” prohibit transgender girls who play in public schools from competing against other girls.
