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2023 SESSION

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HB 1507 Public elementary and secondary schools; fundamental right of parents.

Introduced by: John J. McGuire, III | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Public elementary and secondary schools; fundamental right of parents. Requires each school board and employee and agent thereof to seek to ensure that the fundamental right of parents in the care and upbringing of their children is recognized and protected and also requires each local school board to provide opportunities for parental involvement in several ways, including providing to parents of students enrolled in the local school division direct access to and an opportunity to review, within a reasonable period of time after the parent so requests, the complete curricular content in the local school division and the option to opt out of policies, surveys, research studies, or programs of instruction and instructional material that are inconsistent with the parent's beliefs, values, or goals and standards for his child.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Public elementary and secondary schools; fundamental right of parents. Requires each school board that amends or adopts a policy to (i) document the reasons that the amended or adopted policy either impacts or does not impact the fundamental right of a parent to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of his child and (ii) if the school board determines that the amended or adopted policy impacts such fundamental right, ensure that the amended or adopted policy is subsequently amended in such a way as to be in compliance with the relevant law that establishes such fundamental right. The bill provides that if any school board fails to comply with any such requirement, any parent of a student enrolled in the local school division or any individual member of the school board may bring a cause of action against the school board for appropriate relief in the circuit court that has jurisdiction in the local school division and any such parent or individual member who prevails in such a cause of action is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill also requires each local school board to provide opportunities for parental involvement in several ways, including providing to parents of students enrolled in the local school division direct access to and an opportunity to review, upon request, the complete curricular content in the local school division and the option to opt out of policies, surveys, research studies, or programs of instruction that are inconsistent with the parent's beliefs, values, or goals and standards for his child.