Graves, 70+ Republicans offer Parents Bill of Rights Act

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) joined more than 70 Republicans to introduce legislation that aims to ensure the rights of parents are honored and protected in the nation’s public schools.

“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,” Rep. Graves said. “This bill helps to ensure the appropriate role of parents and transparency in the relationship with schools.”

The Parents Bill of Rights Act, H.R. 6056, which U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) sponsored on Nov. 19 with 73 original cosponsors, including Rep. Graves, is founded on five core principles that would apply to all schools receiving federal funding.

Specifically, parents have the right to review their school’s curriculum, reading materials, and state academic standards; to lawfully engage with their local school board and educators; to see a school’s budget and spending, including detailed information about revenues and expenditures; to protect their child’s privacy; and to keep their child safe and be updated on any violent activity at school, according to a bill summary provided by Republicans on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee.

H.R. 6056 also contains numerous transparency and accountability provisions designed to increase parent involvement in schools, according to the summary.

U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Banks (R-IN) also cosponsored the bill.