Tennessee declines to act on first complaint under new law banning critical race theory

The bill, passed in the spring, includes among its targets critical race theory, or CRT, an academic discipline that examines the ways in which racism operates in US laws and society. CRT is rarely taught below college level but Republicans across the US have exploited fears about it for electoral gain.

The Tennessee complaint was filed by Robin Steenman, chair of the Williamson county chapter of Moms for Liberty, a conservative parents group, the Tennesseean reported.

In a letter obtained by the Tennessean, the state education department explained its decision not to investigate. Officials said the complaint concerned the 2020-2021 school year, but the department was only authorized to investigate complaints from 2021-2022.

Officials also said the complaint was filed outside the time frame required and did not follow outlined process. It was also filed before Tennessee had adopted a process for how to handle complaints.

The curriculum, Wit and Wisdom, is still used in Williamson county schools and in neighboring districts. A spokesperson for Great Minds, the company that produces it, told the Tennessean in July the curriculum did not include any concept banned by the new legislation.

As of 22 November, no appeals had been filed against the first ruling. A Williamson county committee is reviewing the curriculum and other content flagged by parents. Results are expected in December.