House GOP Pushes Parents Bill of Rights, But Some Advocates Call it ‘Tone Deaf’

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A vocal parent advocacy group is criticizing the recent proposal of the "Parents Bill of Rights" by House Republicans, claiming that it fails to address the concerns of many American families. They are actively working to prevent the bill from passing in the House.

Last week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other GOP members introduced a five-point plan known as H.R.5. The plan aims to increase transparency in education by providing information on curriculum, spending, and incidents of violence in schools. The bill will be reviewed by education committee members before it goes to the floor for potential amendments.

Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, expressed her disappointment with the proposed bill. She questioned its lack of focus on important issues such as student progress and the right to education. Rodrigues also criticized the lack of representation of minority parents and children during McCarthy’s press conference. In response, she organized a meeting with Democratic leaders in the House to discuss strategies for defeating the bill.

Republicans have promised to introduce such a bill since gaining the House majority. They argue that schools have ignored parents’ demands to reopen during the pandemic and have introduced controversial lessons on race and gender. However, with Democrats currently in control of the Senate, it is unlikely that the bill will pass in its current form. A similar bill sponsored by Republican Senator Josh Hawley in 2021 did not receive a hearing.

The House legislation mirrors laws passed by several Republican-led states last year, including Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. While some experts question the constitutional basis for a federal version, this issue was not addressed last week.

Representative Aaron Bean of Florida assured parents that they will not be kept in the dark and will be included in the educational process. During the event, parents shared their experiences, such as a Virginia parent whose child was suspended multiple times for not wearing a mask and a Rhode Island parent who filed public record requests to gather information on school curriculum. The school board considered legal action but decided against it.

Critics, including Keri Rodrigues and the Campaign for Our Shared Future, argue that such bills are aimed at perpetuating culture wars. They emphasize that federal and state laws already grant parents the right to review curriculum and opt their children out of lessons they deem inappropriate.

Rodrigues believes that a comprehensive bill of rights should be developed in consultation with a diverse group of families. She suggests including guarantees that students graduate prepared for college, providing parents with up-to-date information on their children’s academic progress, and offering free afterschool programs and tutoring if needed.

Last year, Rodrigues advocated for the establishment of a parent council within the US Department of Education to ensure regular input from engaged parents. However, this idea was abandoned after conservative organizations filed a lawsuit, claiming lack of representation for their groups and inadequate advisory committee procedures.

Despite this setback, members of the National Parents Union continue to bring their concerns to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. They attended his speech in January, where they held him accountable for not addressing the challenges faced by children with special needs.

In an op-ed published on March 1, the secretary emphasized that parent partnership should not be driven by succumbing to the most vocal individuals or engaging in political posturing. Instead, it should revolve around valuing the opinions of all families and extending an invitation to parents to actively participate in the decision-making procedures in the field of education.