Parents Bill of Rights Act

Bill: 118-hr-5
Sponsor: Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
Introduced: 2023-03-01 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child health
Elementary and secondary education
First Amendment rights
Freedom of information
Government information and archives
Internet, web applications, social media
Libraries and archives
School administration
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Teaching, teachers, curricula
World history

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-01
text: 

Parents Bill of Rights Act

 
This bill establishes various rights of parents and guardians regarding the elementary or secondary school education of their children. Local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools must comply with the requirements of the bill in order to receive federal education funds.
 
Specifically, the bill requires schools to notify parents and guardians of their rights regarding the education of their children. These rights include the right to
 
 
review the curriculum of their child's school;
 
know if the state alters its challenging academic standards;
 
meet with each teacher of their child at least twice each school year;
 
review the budget, including all revenues and expenditures, of their child's school;
 
review a list of the books and other reading materials in the library of their child's school;
 
address the school board of the LEA;
 
receive information about violent activity in their child's school; and
 
receive information about any plans to eliminate gifted and talented programs in the child's school. 
 
 
Additionally, the bill directs each LEA to post on a publicly accessible website (or otherwise widely disseminate to the public) the curriculum for each elementary and secondary school grade level. The LEA must also include in its annual report card the overall budget of the LEA and the budget for each elementary and secondary school.
 
The bill also provides for additional family educational and privacy rights, including by prohibiting schools from selling student information for commercial or financial gain.

action_date: 2023-03-14
text: 

Parents Bill of Rights Act

 
This bill establishes various rights of parents and guardians regarding the elementary or secondary school education of their children. Local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools must comply with the requirements of the bill in order to receive federal education funds.
 
Specifically, the bill requires schools to notify parents and guardians of their rights regarding the education of their children. These rights include the right to
 
 
review the curriculum of their child's school;
 
meet with each teacher of their child at least twice each school year;
 
review the budget, including all revenues and expenditures, of their child's school;
 
inspect the books and other reading materials in the library of their child's school;
 
address the school board of the LEA;
 
receive information about violent activity in their child's school; and
 
know if their child is not grade-level proficient in reading or language arts at the end of 3rd grade. 
 
 
Each LEA must (1) post on a publicly accessible website (or otherwise widely disseminate to the public) the curriculum for each grade level, and (2) include detailed budget information in its annual report card.
 
The bill provides for additional family educational and privacy rights, including by prohibiting schools from selling student information for commercial or financial gain.
 
An elementary school or a school consisting of only grades 5-8 must obtain parental consent before (1) changing a minor child's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms; or (2) allowing a child to change the child's sex-based accommodations.

action_date: 2023-03-24
text: 

Parents Bill of Rights Act

 
This bill establishes various rights of parents and guardians regarding the public elementary or secondary school education (including secondary career and technical education) of their children. Local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools must comply with the requirements of the bill in order to receive federal education funds.
 
Specifically, the bill requires schools to notify parents and guardians of their rights regarding the education of their children. These rights include the right to
 
 
review (and make copies of at no cost) the curriculum of their child's school;
 
know if the state alters its challenging academic standards;
 
meet with each teacher of their child at least twice each school year;
 
review the budget, including all revenues and expenditures, of their child's school;
 
inspect the books and other reading materials in the library of their child's school;
 
address the school board of the LEA;
 
receive information about violent activity in their child's school; and
 
know if their child is not grade-level proficient in reading or language arts at the end of 3rd grade. 
 
 
Additional rights include the right to
 
 
receive information about any plans to eliminate gifted and talented programs or college credit programs in their child's school;
 
know the total number of school counselors in their child's school;
 
know if their child's school operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs or activities that permit an individual whose biological sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designed for individuals whose biological sex is female; 
 
know if their child's school allows an individual whose biological sex is male to use restrooms or changing rooms designated for individuals whose biological sex is female; and
 
receive timely information about any major cyberattack against their child's school. 
 
 
Each LEA must (1) post on a publicly accessible website (or otherwise widely disseminate to the public) the curriculum for each grade level, and (2) include detailed budget information in its annual report card.
 
The bill provides for additional family educational and privacy rights, including by (1) prohibiting schools from acting as an agent of a parent for purposes of providing verifiable parental consent for a vaccination, (2) prohibiting schools from selling student information for commercial or financial gain, and (3) requiring schools to engage meaningfully with parents in developing privacy policies or procedures.
 
An elementary school or a school consisting of only grades 5-8 must obtain parental consent before (1) changing a minor child's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms; or (2) allowing a child to change the child's sex-based accommodations.
 
The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to evaluate and analyze the impact of the bill on protecting parents' rights in the education of their children and the costs to educational agencies and schools.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 213 - 208 (Roll no. 161).
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 213 - 208 (Roll no. 161).
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 203 - 218 (Roll no. 160).
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: Mrs. Hayes moved to recommit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce. (text: CR H1424)
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tenney amendment No. 22.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Smith (NJ) amendment No. 21.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Roy amendment No. 20, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Roy demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Roy amendment No. 20.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Roy amendment No. 19, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Roy demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Roy amendment No. 19.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2023-03-24
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1415-1426)
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Ms. Foxx moved that the committee rise.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Miller (OH) amendment No. 18.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the McCormick amendment No. 17, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McCormick amendment No. 17.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McCormick amendment No. 16.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Massie amendment No. 15, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Lawler demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Massie amendment No. 15.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lawler amendment No. 14.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jacobs amendment No. 13, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Jacobs demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jacobs amendment No. 13.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jacobs amendment No. 12.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Green (TN) amendment No. 10, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Scott (VA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Green (TN) amendment No. 10.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garbarino amendment No. 9.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1386-1396)
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Ms. Foxx moved that the Committee rise.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Fitzpatrick Amendment No. 8, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Fitzpatrick demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Fitzpatrick Amendment No. 8.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Davidson Amendment No. 7, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Davidson (OH) amendment No. 7.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Crane amendment No. 6, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Crane amendment No. 6.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Bonamici amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Bonamici demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bonamici amendment No. 5.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boebert amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boebert amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 241, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bacon amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with two hours of general debate on H.R. 5.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Mike Flood to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 241 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5 with 2 hours of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 241. (consideration: CR H1348-1383; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1372-1374)
action_date: 2023-03-23
text: Rule H. Res. 241 passed House.
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 241 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5 with 2 hours of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2023-03-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 4.
action_date: 2023-03-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 118-9.
action_date: 2023-03-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 118-9.
action_date: 2023-03-09
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 17.
action_date: 2023-03-09
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2023-03-08
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2023-03-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2023-03-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-03-01
text: Introduced in House