Another bill Evers vetoed would have required school boards to let residents inspect a school district’s textbooks, curriculum and instructional materials. Residents can already request to review learning materials, but the legislationwould have required school districts to respond to such requests within 14 days, as well as publish a list of textbooks on their website. Republicans have unsuccessfully introduced the policy in the last three sessions, with Evers vetoing it once before.
The legislation comes at a time when books and curriculum are under more scrutiny by parents and politicians. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and rebuild trust between parents and schools, while opponents said it was a means of fearmongering in classrooms.
“My position has not changed, nor have my concerns about the Wisconsin State Legislature’s continued attempts to create burdensome statewide mandates for schools without providing any funding to successfully implement such mandates,” Evers said in his veto memo.