New Michigan Law Requires School Districts in State to Post Rights of Parents

It has been 45 long years since lawmakers in the state of Michigan passed a law guaranteeing the right of parents to direct the education of their kids. State lawmakers now want to make sure parents know about this right.

A new law that was enacted last week requires the Michigan Department of Education and school districts to prominently post excerpts of the 1976 law in school offices and rooms where the boards of education meet.

They will also be required to post an excerpt from the Michigan Constitution affirming the importance of morality and religion as a premise for encouraging education.

State Rep. Annette Glenn sponsors bill

Republican state Rep. Annette Glenn of Midland, the one who sponsored the bill, said that this will serve as a visible and valuable reminder that parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their kids.

The new law comes against a backdrop of politically charged and volatile school board meetings in the state of Michigan and around the United States, as community members and conservative groups challenge officials over how racism is taught in schools, what books are available there, and whether school districts should limit the participation of transgender girls in school sports.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill into law last week, according to Michigan Radio. Education officials have until January 1, 2023 to post the notices in school offices and administrative buildings, in rooms where school boards conduct their meetings, in the principal's office or chief administrator's office in every school, in the state board meeting room, and in every building operated by the Michigan Department of Education.

The law does not specify the size or format of the required notice that needs to be posted. The language also must appear in training materials that will be provided to employees of both the Michigan Department of Education and state Board of Education.

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Polehanki voted no to the legislation

The Senate and House passed the legislation, 28-5 and 84-20, respectively, on September 28, the last scheduled voting day of the Legislature before the general election. All Republicans and some Democrats voted yes in each chamber.

State Senator Dayna Polehanki voted no. Polehanki, who is a former Michigan teacher of the year and a Livonia Democrat, told Chalkbeat Detroit that she is not buying into these efforts to elevate falsehoods that schools are not cooperating with parents. She added that to say schools are not cooperating with parents and then inserting some blurb from the constitution about religion and morality, that is just a pure political game to her.

Polehanki noted that it is a distraction from more important issues. She said that this does not raise test scores and it does not do anything to promote academic achievement. She added that it is just a purely political thing introduced at the last minute to fire up their base before the election.

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