The Parents Bill of Rights: Everything You Need to Know

When this new GOP bill is approved, parents will be given new power and rights over their children's education.

House Republicans led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy gathered in the Rayburn Room with parents, families, and activists as audience to introduce The Parents Bill of Rights, a new bill that they say can provide parents "more insight and power into their children's education."

According to Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., the new bill will allow parents to have a copy of revisions to state education standards and a list of books and reading materials available in the school library. It will also require school districts to post curriculum information for parents. All these and more are what the new bill promises.

House Speaker McCarthy stated the bill would ensure that parents will "have a say" in their kids' education, without the school or government telling them what their children should be learning or what to do.

Parents to be given the right to transparency

"We are going to fight to make sure that our voices are heard, that we have a right to have a seat at the table when it comes to our children's education," Letlow declared.

The representative further stated that the new bill would give parents the right to address their local school board on issues and concerns that might impact their students' education. They will be given the authority to be updated in schools' privacy policies, ABC News reported.

On the other hand, schools will be instructed to practice transparency, especially in decision-making, encouraging parents and community feedback. And, more on transparency, the new bill is pro-parental consent in terms of medical exams that the students will be undertaking, be it about mental health or screening for substance use disorder. School administration will also be required to inform parents about any violent activity in school.

Read More: New Ohio Bill Allows Parents To Review School Lessons of Their Children

The new bill brings division, activists say

Despite a similar bill drafted by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo, failing to get congressional approval in 2021, House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik is confident that this bill "will pass" later this year, with 73 republican co-sponsors and a GOP-led House.

McCarthy showed the same confidence, stating that he could not imagine people opposing the Parents Bill of Rights as it is what every parent needs - a guarantee to know what their kids are being taught, where their money is going, and if there is any activity or program in school that could harm their children.

However, the largest labor union in the U.S., the National Education Association (NEA), boldly disagreed with Stefanik and McCarthy.

The organization that represents educators and school faculty expressed that the new bill is tearing apart educators and parents that should have been partners and working together to ensure that all students, regardless of race and background, are presented with the opportunity to succeed in their education and life.

Becky Pringle, NEA President, declared in a statement that instead of electing leaders that should be focused on providing students the individualized support needed, keeping guns out of campus, and solving teacher shortages, the elected officials, like McCarthy, "would rather seek to stoke racial and social division," and distract the society with what students need to thrive in - "an inspiring, inclusive, and age-appropriate curriculum that prepares each and every one of them for their future."

Related Article: Parents vs. School Policies: Kentucky Bill Passed Giving Parents Rights to Challenge School Instructional Materials