Graves Introduces the Parents Bill of Rights Act
Press Release
U.S. Congressman Garret Graves joined Congresswoman Julia Letlow in introducing the Parents Bill of Rights Act (H.R. 6056). This legislation will put practices in place that facilitate meaningful dialog between a family and their child's school, and lead to more input throughout the learning process.
"Education is the key to unlocking our children's potential and is most successful when everyone is pushing in the same direction -- parents, teachers, the administrators. This bill helps to ensure the appropriate role of parents and transparency in the relationship with schools," Graves said.
"As a mom of two and a former educator, I firmly believe that the relationship between parents and schools should be collaborative, not adversarial," Letlow said. "Education is not a job just parents or schools can do by themselves, it requires us to work together. This bill not only contains common-sense ideas, but it also fully opens the door for those partnerships."
The Parents Bill of Rights is built on five core principles that would apply to all schools nationwide that receive federal funding.
Parents have the right to review their school's curriculum, reading materials, and state academic standards.
Parents have the right to lawfully engage with their local school board and educators.
Parents have the right to see a school's budget and spending, including detailed information about revenues and expenditures.
Parents have the right to protect their child's privacy.
Parents have the right to keep their child safe and be updated on any violent activity at school.
The legislation also contains numerous transparency and accountability provisions designed to increase parent involvement in schools.
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member Virginia Foxx, Republican Study Committee Chair Jim Banks, and Congressman Burgess Owens joined Graves and Letlow in introducing this bill in the House of Representatives.
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