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HB 1158 - Parents' Bill of Rights; enact

Tracking Level: Watch
Sponsor: John Carson (R)
Last Action: 2/7/2022 - House - House Second Readers
House Committee: Education
Assigned To:
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Staff Analysis of the Legislation

gsba-cwo header 

SUMMARY:  LC 49 0756

This bill is a Parent's Bill of Rights, similar in some ways to HB 1178 and SB 449. This one also adds a new code to Title 19 and to Title 20.

The bill asserts several of the generally accepted rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, and healthcare of their minor child. This summary will include parts applicable to K-12 education.

It includes the parental right to effective communication from the school principal as to the manner in which instructional materials are used to implement the school's curricular objectives. 

The parent has the right to consent in writing before a state or local government entity or any agent or officer of the entity makes a video or audio recording or photograph of the minor child unless it is part of a court proceeding, criminal investigation, or child welfare investigation or is to be used solely for:

-- a safety demonstration, including the maintenance of order and discipline in the common areas of a school or on student transportation vehicles

--a purpose related to a legitimate academic or extracurricular activity

-- a purposes related to regular classroom instruction

--security or surveillance of buildings or grounds

--a photo identification card 

Requires each governing body of a school or district to develop and adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in public schools in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators. The policy shall include:

1) A plan for parental participation in schools to improve parent and teacher cooperation in such areas as homework, school attendance, and discipline

2) A procedure for a parent to learn about their child's courses of study including parental access to primary and supplementary instructional materials intended for use in the classroom. Primary instructional materials intended for use in the classroom shall be made available for parental review no less than 30 days prior to the start of each semester. Supplementary materials used or intended for use in their child's classroom shall be made available for parental review within ten days of the parent's request for review or the date of classroom use whichever is later. If the materials are not available for review online, they must be made available for review on site upon request within the same time limits.

3) a procedure for a parent to object to primary and supplementary instructional materials intended for use in his or her child's classroom or recommended by his/her teacher. Such objections may be based on the parent's individual beliefs regarding morality, sex, or religion.

4) A procedure for a parent to withdraw their child from any portion of the school's prescribed course of study in sex education if the parent provides a written objection to the child's participation. The procedures must include advance notification to the parent of the course content so they may withdraw the child from those provisions.

5) A procedure for a parent to learn about the nature and purpose of school clubs and organizations and other activities offered at the child's school, including those that are extracurricular or part of the school curriculum

6) Procedures for a parent to learn about parental rights and responsibilities under law including a list of nine listed rights (lines 150-176)

The required information may be provided by electronic means or posted on the website.

A parent may request the required information in writing from the principal, superintendent, or the designee. They have ten days to provide the information.  If the parent's request is denied the parent can appeal to the local board or governing board of a charter school. The appeal is to be placed on the board agenda for its next public meeting.

The Department of Education shall develop guidelines and model policies to assist schools and school systems in implementing these requirements. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2022 for the 2022-23 school year 


Bill Summary from the State Site - Click for the State Summary Page / Click for Current Full Text