Senate Passes “Parents’ Bill of Rights”

Popular legislation bolsters relationships between parents and schools

All Senate Democrats voted against giving parents greater access to classroom instructional materials

Raleigh, N.C. — Today, the North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 49, the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.” The legislation affirms parental rights in education and creates a new benchmark for transparency in public schools.

The “Parents’ Bill of Rights” supports a strong partnership between parents and educators and prioritizes the safety of students. The bill strengthens parents’ rights to know what is being taught in their child’s classroom and be aware of their child’s well-being while at school. It fosters cooperation between parents and educators by increasing transparency and communication in schools.

“The ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ requires that public schools inform parents of their rights and of the procedures to exercise those rights,” Senate Education Committee Chair Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) said. “Parents should be confident that when there is a problem, a remedy is available.”

With concerns over the state of education rising, the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” includes several measures that strengthen the relationship between parents and schools. The bill:

• Provides a pathway for parents to request materials related to in-class instruction.
• Notifies parents of the health services offered at their child’s school at the beginning of each school year.
• Notifies parents of changes in the name or pronoun used by their child at school.
• Notifies parents of any changes in services or monitoring of their child’s mental, emotional, or physical health.
• Informs parents of their legal rights and responsibilities relating to their child’s education.
• Codifies several rights parents have in education, including seeking medical or religious exemptions from immunization requirements and to have their child evaluated for an academically or intellectually gifted program, or for identification as a child with a disability.

Senate Bill 49 also sets standards for age-appropriate instruction for our youngest students and prevents schools from withholding information relevant to a child’s well-being.

The bill prohibits instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality in K-4, and requires schools to notify parents of any changes in the name or pronoun of a student, given there are no credible concerns about the child’s safety if a parent is notified. This bill would not ban a student from talking about their unique family structure or asking a question. All it does is simply prohibit sexuality, sexual activity, and gender identity from being part of the curriculum in those grades.

Despite the obvious benefits, and support from the public, every single Senate Democrat voted against parents and students. While Democrats claim to support parents’ rights and filed a watered-down version of a parents’ rights bill, their “support” is nothing more than political theater. Republicans remain dedicated to fighting for parental involvement in education, including school choice.

The bill now goes to the N.C. House of Representatives for consideration.