Curriculum Debate Sparks Response From Rochester Schools

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester School District has published a response to a letter sent by First District Congressman Brad Finstad to the state education commissioner.

Finstad Questions Learning for Justice Influence

The Republican U.S. representative indicated that his letter to Commissioner Willie Jett highlighted "concerns regarding the Southern Poverty Law Center's Learning for Justice program and related social frameworks being integrated into Rochester Public Schools." Finstad cited Rochester School Board documents in claiming that the social studies curriculum has been informed by Learning for Justice, "raising questions about how the frameworks may be incorporated into classroom instruction."

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Letter Raises Questions About Curriculum Frameworks

“Our public schools in Rochester, and across the country, serve families from diverse political, religious, and cultural backgrounds,” said Rep. Finstad. “Public schools should be politically neutral, but instead the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice program is able to integrate far-left content and materials into our K-12 schools.”

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RPS Says Program Has Not Been Adopted will

A statement issued by Rochester Public Schools today notes that "neither Representative Finstad nor any member of his staff contacted Rochester Public Schools (RPS) before sending the letter to ask whether Learning for Justice curriculum, materials, or frameworks are currently being used in RPS or have been used in recent years. If they had reached out to inquire, Finstad's staff would have been informed that Rochester Public Schools has not adopted, approved, or implemented Learning for Justice as curriculum, required instructional materials, or a formal instructional framework."