Pennsylvania Department of Education agrees to rescind requirement for teachers to adopt guidelines to be considered 'woke'

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has agreed to rescind its obligation to schools to enforce instructional guidelines deemed “questionable” in a recently settled lawsuit.

Pennsylvania officials had asked schools to adopt a set of instructions on how to approach education based on the Framework Guidelines for Culturally Relevant and Sustainable Education Programs (CR-SE).

The guidelines urge teachers to “design learning experiences and spaces that enable learners to identify and question economic, political, and social power structures within their schools” and “to address harmful institutional practices and policies.” It includes a requirement to “destroy norms”.

The Thomas More Society, a faith-based legal organization, filed a lawsuit against PDE in April 2023 on behalf of a group of parents and public school districts who argue that its mandate violates their First Amendment rights. filed a lawsuit against.

Trump nominates former WWE CEO Linda McMahon as secretary of education

PDE settled the lawsuit in November and agreed to rescind the CR-SE guidelines.

Kirk Cameron, Christian parent emerges as Trump-Mars Cabinet nominee to replace Education Department

“We are very pleased with this settlement agreement that forces the Pennsylvania Department of Education to rescind the state’s ‘Culturally Relevant and Sustainable Education’ guidelines. This secures an important victory for teachers,” said Special Counsel Thomas Brace. The Thomas More Society said in a statement:

“Our agreement follows the department's efforts to inject 'woke' activism into school curricula across Pennsylvania, requiring educators to affirm their beliefs in these ideological tenets and impose them on their students.” “This is a victory against a blatantly ideological and illegal attempt,” Bless added.

Days after the settlement, the department released new proposals based on a new “common ground framework,” but schools no longer have to follow the guidelines.

Pennsylvania required schools to adopt a set of instructions on how to approach education based on the Framework Guidelines for Culturally Relevant and Sustainable Education Programs (CR-SE). (St. Petersburg)

Asked about the settlement, PDE highlighted the new guidelines in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

“PDE has created this resource as an improvement on previously published guidance by focusing on real-world issues that impact people in all learning spaces in all Pennsylvania communities: digital literacy, mental health, and trauma. We are proud to offer this service,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The new guidelines encourage educators to “understand the importance of differences among marginalized learners and historically underrepresented groups,” including gender identity, according to the department's website. .

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Additionally, teachers in the state continue to “create equitable learning environments by challenging and debunking stereotypes and biases about the intelligence, academic ability, and behavior of historically marginalized learners.” Encouraged.