Ending Critical Race Theory in D.C. Public Schools Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3937 To promote dignity and nondiscrimination in the District of Columbia Public Schools and the District of Columbia Public Charter Schools. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 16, 2021 Mr. GROTHMAN (for himself, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. FALLON, Mr. GIBBS, and Mr. JACKSON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Oversight and Reform A BILL To promote dignity and nondiscrimination in the District of Columbia Public Schools and the District of Columbia Public Charter Schools. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ending Critical Race 4 Theory in D.C. Public Schools Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 6 It is the sense of Congress that administrators, fac- 7 ulty, and other employees of the District of Columbia Pub- 8 lic Schools and the District of Columbia Public Charter 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jul 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3937.IH H3937 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3937 IH Schools should maintain policies in accordance with title 1 VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et 2 seq.). 3 SEC. 3. DIGNITY AND NONDISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC EDU- 4 CATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 5 (a) IN GENERAL.—No employee of the District of Co- 6 lumbia Public Schools or the District of Columbia Public 7 Charter Schools shall compel a teacher or student to 8 adopt, affirm, adhere to, or profess ideas that promote 9 race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating. 10 (b) DIRECTING OR COMPELLING STUDENTS TO 11 ADOPT PROHIBITED IDEAS.—No course of instruction or 12 unit of study in the District of Columbia Public Schools 13 or the District of Columbia Public Charter Schools may 14 direct or otherwise compel students to personally adopt, 15 affirm, adhere to, or profess ideas that promote race or 16 sex stereotyping or scapegoating. 17 (c) DIRECTING OR COMPELLING TEACHERS TO 18 ADOPT PROHIBITED IDEAS.—No course of instruction, 19 unit of study, or professional development or training pro- 20 gram of the District of Columbia Public Schools or the 21 District of Columbia Public Charter Schools may direct 22 or otherwise compel teachers to personally adopt, affirm, 23 adhere to, or profess ideas that promote race or sex stereo- 24 typing or scapegoating. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jul 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3937.IH H3937 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 3937 IH (d) RACE OR SEX STEREOTYPING OR SCAPEGOATING 1 DEFINED.—For the purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘race 2 or sex stereotyping or scapegoating’’ consists of the fol- 3 lowing list of prohibited divisive concepts: 4 (1) One race or sex is inherently superior to an- 5 other race or sex. 6 (2) The United States is fundamentally racist 7 or sexist. 8 (3) An individual, by virtue of his or her race 9 or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, 10 whether consciously or unconsciously. 11 (4) An individual should be discriminated 12 against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly 13 because of his or her race or sex. 14 (5) Members of one race or sex cannot and 15 should not attempt to treat others without respect to 16 race or sex. 17 (6) An individual’s moral character is nec- 18 essarily determined by his or her race or sex. 19 (7) An individual, by virtue of his or her race 20 or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in 21 the past by other members of the same race or sex. 22 (8) Any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, 23 anguish, or any other form of psychological distress 24 on account of his or her race or sex. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jul 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3937.IH H3937 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 3937 IH (9) Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work 1 ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a par- 2 ticular race to oppress another. 3 SEC. 4. SEVERABILITY. 4 If any provision of this Act, or the application of a 5 provision of this Act to any person or circumstance, is held 6 to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, and the 7 application of the provisions to any person or cir- 8 cumstance, shall not be affected by the holding. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jul 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3937.IH H3937 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS