FACT SHEET: Give Every Parent More Control Over Their Child’s Education

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“I do not believe in co-parenting with the government, and I never will. Parental rights are a God-given blessing. I am deeply saddened to see our country even debating who should have the right to raise our children.”  - Lou Holtz

Over the last few years, parental rights have consistently been trampled on by school boards, school administrators, teachers’ unions, and teachers. An evergrowing movement is now infusing classrooms with race-based policies and instruction that sexualizes young children and deconstructs the nuclear family.

Congressional leaders have recognized the blatant attacks on these fundamental rights and are working hard to strengthen existing federal law protections for parents’ rights.

The Parents Bill of Rights Act (H.R. 5 – 2023) would mandate additional transparency regarding K–12 curriculum and school expenditures, establish new protections for children’s privacy and data, and ensure parents are notified about any violent activity in schools.

H.R.5 builds on existing protections for parents that are well established in statutes and the American legal tradition.

PARENTS ALREADY HAVE THE RIGHT TO

• Inspect all instructional materials in connection with any survey, analysis, or evaluation See the Protection of Pupils Rights Amendment (PPRA)
• Review their children’s education records until they turn 18 See the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 1974 (revised 2002)
• Request corrections and contest elements of a student’s record they believe to be incorrect See FERPA
• Make decisions concerning the care, custody, or control of their children Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000)

PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD

• “The responsibility for the education of their children, and States, localities, and private institutions have the primary responsibility for supporting that parental role.” See the Department of Education Organization Act

PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO

• Facilitate “meaningful consultation with parents” See the Every Student Succeeds Act

SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING ARE NOT ALLOWED TO

• Discriminate based on race, color, and national origin See Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act

PARENTS, NOT THE GOVERNMENT, SHOULD HAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION.

Much of what is currently happening violates existing federal statutes and is contrary to American legal tradition. The Parents Bill of Rights Act would strengthen parents’ fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children so that families are even better armed to protect their children and their sacred rights.