Lawmakers debate ‘academic balance.’ But what is it, and why so controversial?

Mar 09, 2018

Pioneer Press, Christopher Magan

Minnesota lawmakers debated a controversial bill Thursday that would require school districts to create and enforce policies requiring “academic balance” in their educators’ instruction.

The proposal stems from controversy last fall in the Edina school district that resulted in the high school’s Young Conservatives Club filing a lawsuit alleging members’ free speech rights were violated. The lawsuit was dropped last week without the district admitting wrongdoing or paying damages.