Kansas proposal sets course rules and adds free speech lessons

The state board of regents would set course rules so students do not have to take a DEI-CRT-related course to meet another program's requirements. This applies to Kansas public universities, municipal universities, community colleges and technical colleges, including their consolidated or affiliated entities. The board may exempt programs clearly focused on racial, ethnic or gender studies in writing. Students in other programs cannot be required to take those exempted courses, and those courses cannot meet other programs' degree requirements beyond general credit hours. The section says it does not restrict faculty academic freedom or classroom discussion. No start date for these rules is stated; the act would take effect after publication in the statute book.

Institutions would include a course on American institutions in undergraduate general education requirements. This applies to public and municipal universities for students completing bachelor's degree programs. A qualifying course must cover constitutional democracy, founding documents and a comparison of communism and totalitarianism with American principles. A two-course sequence on the Constitution may qualify after students complete both courses. The requirement applies to students completing an undergraduate bachelor's degree in school year 2027–2028 and later.

Institutions would include free expression information and programming in freshman orientation, and post materials about DEI-CRT-related topics online. This applies to freshman orientation programs at postsecondary educational institutions as defined for this section. DEI-CRT-related programming could appear only in sessions where students also have a choice of unrelated topics promoted comparably. Online copies or links are required only to the maximum extent allowed by law. No separate start date is stated; the act would take effect after publication in the statute book.