All articles tagged with #parents rights
A federal judge in California ruled that teachers can disclose a student's gender identity to parents, striking down policies that protected student confidentiality, a decision that may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and has sparked debate over students' privacy rights and parental notification.
The US Supreme Court has supported parents in Maryland seeking to opt their children out of LGBTQ-themed books in schools, citing religious rights and the potential for irreparable harm, while dissenting justices expressed concern about the impact on public school diversity and inclusion.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that public schools in Maryland must allow parents with religious objections to opt their children out of classes discussing LGBTQ-themed storybooks, extending religious freedom rights but raising concerns about the impact on LGBTQ inclusion and education. The case involved a curriculum with books depicting LGBTQ characters, which some parents argued violated their religious beliefs, leading to legal battles and a Supreme Court decision emphasizing religious rights over educational content.
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters issued a memo to parents and school leaders outlining educational policy changes following recent election results. Walters criticized the U.S. Department of Education for overreaching and proposed eliminating it in favor of block grants to restore state control. His priorities include enhancing parents' rights, ending perceived social indoctrination, promoting patriotism in curricula, managing immigration impacts on schools, and blocking foreign influence. Walters aims to work with President Trump to implement these changes and return educational authority to local communities.
Conservative activist groups advocating for parental control over school curricula suffered significant losses in school board elections across the United States. Voters rejected candidates backed by groups such as Moms for Liberty, which has been at the forefront of the culture war battles over issues of gender and race in schools. The results were seen as a repudiation of the far-right agenda, with voters favoring moderate or liberal candidates instead. The outcome of these elections could influence future races, as candidates may reconsider affiliating themselves with far-right groups. However, conservative groups like the 1776 Project still claimed some victories. The emergence of dark money groups and the involvement of political action committees have changed the dynamics of school board races, making it harder for candidates with extreme views to go unnoticed.
Republican candidates in Virginia, including gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, focused on parents' rights as a campaign issue, particularly regarding education policies such as critical race theory and transgender student guidelines. However, in the recent elections, Democratic-endorsed candidates won a majority on the Loudoun County school board, indicating that the message of parents' rights did not resonate with voters. The Democrats' wins in Loudoun County and across the state suggest that Republicans may need a new message as they look ahead to future elections.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has pardoned Scott Smith, the father of a student who was sexually assaulted in a high school bathroom, after Smith's arrest at a school board meeting became a rallying point for conservatives advocating for increased parental involvement in public education. Smith's disorderly conduct conviction, stemming from the incident in June 2021, has been pardoned by Youngkin, who made support for the "parents' rights" movement a key part of his campaign. Smith had protested the handling of his daughter's assault and threatened deputies at the meeting. The governor's decision has drawn criticism from the county's Commonwealth's Attorney, who accused Youngkin of interfering for political gain. Smith plans to pursue legal action against the school district and continue advocating for parents and their children.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board approved policies to comply with North Carolina's new parents' bill of rights law, which includes requirements such as allowing parents to review and challenge textbooks and notifying parents if their children want to use a different name or pronouns. While some praised the changes as a victory for parents, others expressed concerns that the law will harm LGBTQ students by depriving them of support at school. Board members shared personal stories of harassment and discrimination, with one member vowing to work within the law to address these issues. Some board members criticized the law for fueling political conflict and distracting educators, while others expressed concerns about the potential harm it may cause to students and teachers.
The Youngkin administration in Virginia has implemented a finalized K-12 transgender policy that emphasizes parents' rights and rolls back some protections for transgender students. The new model policies require students to use school bathrooms that match their assigned sex at birth, and personnel must refer to students using pronouns based on their sex in official records. LGBTQ advocates and organizations have denounced the policies, claiming they harm transgender and nonbinary students and violate their rights. The policies are meant to serve as a model for local school boards, which must implement their own policies consistent with the state's model.
Casey DeSantis, the first lady of Florida, launched the "Mamas for DeSantis" program to mobilize moms for her husband's presidential bid. She emphasized her husband's fight for parents' rights, highlighting his opposition to school shutdowns and mask mandates during the pandemic. The DeSantises' focus on family and their roles as parents have been central to Ron DeSantis' campaign, resonating with Iowa parents who find them relatable. The program aims to protect the innocence of children and parental rights. The DeSantises' family-oriented approach has been successful in appealing to conservative parents and the evangelical community.
Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, made her first solo campaign appearance in Iowa, promoting the "parents' rights" movement and positioning her husband as its champion. Casey DeSantis has been a key advisor to her husband and is now taking on the role of humanizer-in-chief to soften his political image. She shared stories about their three young children and their adventures in the governor's mansion, while also highlighting her husband's stance on issues such as school administrators, transgender rights, and vaccine mandates. Some attendees were impressed by her commitment to parents' rights, while others sought a candidate with a more drastic approach.
A judge in Tennessee has granted parents of students killed or traumatized in a school shooting the legal right to object to the release of police evidence, including the shooter's writings, in an ongoing investigation. The ruling has raised concerns about the chilling effect it could have on law enforcement officials' transparency in violent crime cases. The parents cited the Tennessee Crime Victims' Bill of Rights, which says victims "have the right to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice system." A "show cause" hearing is scheduled for June 8 for attorneys on both sides of the issue to make arguments.
New Hampshire Democratic state Rep. Tommy Hoyt told a parent to "shut up" after the parent urged him to support a proposed parents bill of rights. Hoyt argued that parents are "incompetent teachers" and shouldn't be involved in their children's education. The proposed bill seeks to establish a parents bill of rights that would prevent public schools from withholding information about their children. The measure was defeated in a 195-190 vote and was opposed by teachers unions and LGBTQ activists. Hoyt is endorsed by the National Education Association and won his seat in the statehouse by a mere 18 votes last year.
The principal of a Christian charter school in Tallahassee, Florida, has resigned after parents complained that sixth-grade students were shown Michelangelo's David, with one parent calling it "pornographic". The school's governing board told Hope Carrasquilla to either resign or be fired. The incident occurred as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pushes to expand a law prohibiting public schools from teaching sex education and gender identity. The law is part of a broader conservative movement advocating for so-called parents' rights. The school is affiliated with Hillsdale College, a Michigan-based private conservative Christian institution.
House Republicans passed the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which requires schools to notify parents of their right to review the curriculum and school budget, inspect books and other library materials, and receive information about any violent activity in the school. The bill also prohibits schools from selling student information and requires parental consent before changing a student's pronouns or preferred name or allowing a student to change their sex-based accommodations. Democrats oppose the bill, claiming it politicizes the classroom and puts LGBTQ students at risk. The bill indicates a further leaning in on culture war issues ahead of the 2024 election, with Republicans viewing parental rights as a winning issue.